Thomas Barnard

Most of us at age 70 will become deconditioned unless we try hard to keep in shape by regularly exercising, and that lack of stamina becomes worse in a kind of vicious cycle; the more we don't exercise, the less we are able to do so. However, in order to be sure that it would be safe for your mother to undertake a reconditioning program, it would require a careful and thorough medical evaluation with her physician, because most elderly diabetics are at a high risk of coronary artery disease, and the chronic loss of reserve capacity in every organ system, heart, lungs, kidneys, thyroid, etc. The good news is that much of this disability might be reversed with medical attention, then, if the way was cleared for a safe increase in exercise, it might be possible to do so so that over a few months, the breathlessness would subside to a degree. But shortness of breath is not a trivial symptom in an elderly diabetic woman, so again, the thorough evaluation is essential and then hopefully, with some simple changes, the lack of stamina can be overcome, leading to a more satisfying life and the ability to be more active comfortably. But a careful and thorough evaluation and then a slow and steady recuperation to a state of higher functionality should be possible. Her physician will help her pave the way, good luck to her!

Please see your physician for a thorough physical with lab work including thyroid testing and antibodies and routine glucose and hemoglobin. Review family history and be sure your adrenal gland function is also checked.

The first thing to be sure of is that you have screening imaging of the bowel, mostly the large bowel due to the incidence of colon cancer, so I presume you have had colonoscopy with a look also at the end of the small intestine. If that is all normal, then adding probiotics and fibre may fix everything in terms of regularizing bowel habits. As well if simple measures do not eliminate the problems and concerns, then doing a comprehensive digestive stool analysis looking at overgrowth of various organisms, evidence of small bowel bacterial overgrowth, parasites, lack of digestive enzymes, etc., and remember that at any age one can develop an inability to digest for example lactose, or certain fats, or certain proteins. Start with testing to be sure there is nothing life threatening, then push on from there for the most comprehensive testing if a simple approach is not completely successful. Keep in mind family history, if your dad had colon polyps or cancer, for example, or something else in his forties, be sure to cover those bases as well. And be clear if you have more stress, if you are drinking more alcohol like beer or wine, or too much fructose containing juices, etc.
Don't worry, but don't ignore the symptoms; you shouldn't have to put up with discomfort and want to get to the bottom of things.
Doc B