Advice needed

[larn71]

Two years ago my husband was in critical care with a DKA. He was not a diabetic and there has never been any explanation. He was given insulin and metformin but then with successful weight loss our GP discontinued all medication. He is now reading levels of 18-22 again (which I know is probably not massively high) but I can see the signs of how he was 2 years ago. I think he should still be on Metformin but he is adamant he is not going to seek medical advice because they just brushed him aside last time.

Thank you all so much for your advice (and support) - after a lot of persuasion he is seeing the GP (soonest appt Thursday) and I have also contacted the surgery with the comments etc., you have all posted below. THANKYOU from myself and my children xxx

 

[Drummer]

DKA is a serious complication of type one diabetes, or other types where insulin is low - and you don't get better from that by losing weight.
If your husband becomes ill - I expect you know the symptoms - then contacting 111, going to A & E or calling an ambulance might be necessary, depending on the situation at the time - readings up to 22 are three times what I usually see, so ignoring them might not work at all well.

 

[Kaylz]

18-22 really is quite high so I would urge you to seek medical attention for that xx

 

[Lucylemonpip]

Oh dear, it’s very difficult when the other-half won’t seek medical help. My father-in-law is the same. All you can do is try to persuade your husband that you are seeing similarities to previously and ask him if he wants things to end up like last time, or to nip things in the bud, bite the bullet and go see your GP.

Was it the GP surgery that your husband was unhappy with?

 

[trophywench]

I do not see and cannot imagine how any person could ever suffer from Diabetic Keto Acidosis without being Diabetic! It is NOT a curable condition - but with the right treatment which your husband received at the time - yes it may well have been put into remission - thereby it's still there, but now lurking in the background waiting to pounce again should a minute hole appears let alone a hairline crack. I'd say the crack appeared a while ago and is now a flipping chasm.

Get him down the doctors as soon as possible - he needs medical help!!!

 

[rebrascora]

I have to second what everyone else says. He needs medical assistance before he reaches the tipping point for DKA again and the NHS is already under strain, particularly at this time of year so even if he will not go to the GP for himself, maybe he will do it to prevent taking up a hospital bed that some other person may need.
Please encourage him to drink plenty of water and cut right back on carbs in his food as these are converted into glucose by his digestive system.... that is not just sweet stuff but starchy carbs in the form of bread, pasta, potatoes, rice, breakfast cereals, pastry etc as well.
Meat, fish, eggs, nuts, full fat dairy produce like cream, cheese and yoghurt, green leafy veg and Mediterranean veg are all good. Many of us have found that cauliflower mashed with a dollop of cream cheese and a spoon of mustard makes a good mashed potato substitute and hugely lower in carbs than potato mash. It can be used as a side serving with sausages or chops etc or a topping for cottage pie or fish pie with a liberal sprinkling of grated cheese and browned in the oven.

He may have more success making an appointment with the practice nurse at your surgery who deals with the diabetics. He/she is usually more knowledgeable, supportive and encouraging than the GPs when it comes to diabetes and can usually prescribe medication or persuade a GP to prescribe what they believe is required.
Please do your best to encourage him to get help before he becomes another emergency admission. He is also risking diabetic complications like damage to his sight and the nerves and blood vessels in his feet, by letting his BG levels stay high for too long. The risk of going blind or losing a foot is surely not something to ignore.

 

[Brando77]

18-22 IS massively high. Sprint to the Docs.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Hello @larn71

There is a form of diabetes called LADA (latent autoimmune diabetes in adulthood) which is like a sort of slow burn T1, initially for GPs ( who may not be familiar with it) it can look a lot like T2, arrived in adulthood, and can even respond well to oral meds, because the attack on islet cells is gradual.

With insulin support sometimes the pancreas ‘rallies’ and can get a second wind... but as the beta cells co to use to be attacked, eventually BG levels will rise again, and this time there is less available insulin production (if much at all)

With your husband’s history of DKA, and very elevated BG I would suggest a trip to A&E, particularly if he develops any abdominal pain, vomiting, shortness of breath, or has a ‘pear drop’ smell on his breath