No I’m not okay I’m a mess been to see him today and nobody had told him he wasn’t coming home today and staying in longer. Nobody had told him that could be a big chance of him go into a care home I don’t understand it they are giving him less insulin now then when he was at home when he was at home he was on 36 units in the morning and 28 units at night now he’s on 20 units on 26 units nobody could seem to answer any of my questions tonight
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Help husband in hospital with high blood sugar and hospital carnt get it under control
- Thread starter Ibby
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Inka
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
I’m so sorry @Ibby Do you have anyone you can phone to support you? A friend or relative?
You deserve answers. When you go in again, ask to speak to the Matron or whatever they’re calling them. It’s not right that they’re not telling him things. Personally I’d be quite firm about that. Did they assume you’d tell him? Does he have a named nurse who should have told him?
Regarding the insulin, that would probably explain why his blood sugar is high. That’s a big decrease for his morning Novomix - very big. Presumably that was because he had the hypos? But it’s mad they’ve made his blood sugar high and are now saying he has to stay in for high sugar! Ask the plan for getting g his morning dose up towards normal. If the Matron doesn’t know, ask to speak to the diabetes team.
There should be people in the hospital who can support you. Is it PALS? I’m not sure.
You deserve answers. When you go in again, ask to speak to the Matron or whatever they’re calling them. It’s not right that they’re not telling him things. Personally I’d be quite firm about that. Did they assume you’d tell him? Does he have a named nurse who should have told him?
Regarding the insulin, that would probably explain why his blood sugar is high. That’s a big decrease for his morning Novomix - very big. Presumably that was because he had the hypos? But it’s mad they’ve made his blood sugar high and are now saying he has to stay in for high sugar! Ask the plan for getting g his morning dose up towards normal. If the Matron doesn’t know, ask to speak to the diabetes team.
There should be people in the hospital who can support you. Is it PALS? I’m not sure.
The person who was giving him his insulin tonight when I was visiting said he wasn’t doing it properly and hadn’t given himself all his insulin but my husband said he had because you can only go once a day as only for an hour if you can get an appointment it’s very hard to find out anything and you’re not there when the diabetic team is there they say they’ve taken his insulin down because he’s in hospital I’m not eating the same as at home
Inka
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Is there any way you could phone the diabetes people on Monday from your home? You could phone the hospital general switchboard number and ask to be put through to the diabetes dept. You could then explain who you are and ask to speak to someone involved with your husband’s care. I’m sure they could explain what’s going on better than a general person on the ward.
You could also phone Diabetes U.K. for advice maybe. The number is at the top right of this page. They won’t be open until Monday but they might be able to offer support about diabetes and being in hospital.
You could also phone Diabetes U.K. for advice maybe. The number is at the top right of this page. They won’t be open until Monday but they might be able to offer support about diabetes and being in hospital.
I think I might ask when I visit tomorrow if the diabetic team is going to see him on Monday if they could give me a ring and I could find out that way what’s going on because I don’t seem to be finding out anything any other way
Hi a few points. I understand your concerns especially as my wife had a kidney transplant last night but fortunately isn't diabetic. Reducing weight is probably the number one action if T2 on insulin as insulin resistance may be high through too many carbs in the diet so those need to be kept under control. It sounds like a move to Basal/Bolus rather than mixed insulin will give better control so do discuss. The use of sliding scale needs to be done with great care as many nurses don't fully understand or monitor it. It sounds like it has been useful but Basal/Bolus managed well could be a good solution in the longer term but if there is excess weight involved any reduction should help. I realise I'm guessing a bit and the situation is complex so put my thoughts into perspective together the with medical advise.
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I have been to see my husband today in hospital and his blood sugars are still high he’s only eating watch the hospital give him which isn’t very much of anything He was about 54 kg when he went in but when I saw him today he asked me for some fresh pyjamas which I put on him and they fit him perfect when he left home but today they were so baggy on him and the T-shirt he had on hung off him I looked at himAnd when I put a fresh T-shirt on for him I could feel his collarbone and all is spine I could say he has lost weight I expressed my concerns to the nurse that he had a brown tongue when he Put it out at me they say is insulin dose is 20 in the morning and 26 at night now but when he was at home it was 36 in the morning and 28 at night they say this is because he is eating hospital food and not the food he would eat at home but I’m at a loss I really don’t know he seems to be fading away before my eyes
Inka
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
@Ibby You know your husband best. If you’re not happy, do make that known. Ask questions and if you’re not satisfied with the answers, ask again. I know it’s easy me writing that, but sometimes we have to be a little more abrupt and firm than we’d normally be in order to get results.
It initially makes sense that they reduced his morning insulin because he’s eating less but if his blood sugars are running high then that suggests they’ve reduced his insulin too much.
I’d also ask about the weight loss. Is your husband refusing food? Is he missing meals by accident? Is he able to access his food ok? Are you allowed to take food in for him (non-perishable)?
It initially makes sense that they reduced his morning insulin because he’s eating less but if his blood sugars are running high then that suggests they’ve reduced his insulin too much.
I’d also ask about the weight loss. Is your husband refusing food? Is he missing meals by accident? Is he able to access his food ok? Are you allowed to take food in for him (non-perishable)?
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
I don't know how tall he is but it sounds as if he was not overweight anyway and can't really afford to lose any more. But as Inka says people don't eat when in hospital if the food is not to their liking or they have difficulty in eating.
You should be concerned about his apparent weight loss and ask for him to be checked.
You should be concerned about his apparent weight loss and ask for him to be checked.
They say he is eating But something is definitely going on he seems to be deteriorating before my eyes these pictures in the file I have sent we are taking two weeks apart he is 161 cm tall And weighed before he went into hospital about 54 kg I don’t know what his weight
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No I’m not taking any food in for him because they say he is eating properly and don’t want to take any food in for him to make his bloods go high
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
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- She/Her
If you have a cool bag you could take things like boiled eggs, cheese, protein yoghurts or nuts which are all low carb. If he feeling hungry he could have those.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
It does sound worrying for you. Can you ask them to weigh him so that you can get some reassurance?
I’m going in today for my hour that I can visit and I’m going to insist I get some answers I need to either speak to the doctor or the doctor ring me hopefully today we will get some answers
Hi. Try to find out what the hospital is feeding him. Normally a diabetic with high BS and suffering weight loss should be on a low carb diet with adequate fats and proteins. Many in the NHS haven't a clue about diet so I would ask and if needed take in, as another poster has suggested, low carb foods such as boiled eggs, cheese etc
Leadinglights
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- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Most hospital will have a menu choice for patients and I wonder if your husband is not choosing the most suitable meals. If you have been responsible for his meals at home, he may be unaware of what he should be having. He may not be being given any advice by the nurses as they may have no clue either.
Hardy
Active Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
I hope todays visit went well and you got some answers.
Not wishing to be negative but don't assume the hospital is doing its best for your husband. Be assertive. Look at his food and drink charts - they should be at the bottom of his bed. Ask for his care plan. If you didn't speak to a dr today, say you require a meeting/telephone call to discuss concerns/treatment/plans going forward asap. If necessary, ask the questions in a letter and state your concerns. In the NHS, if its not recorded, it didn't happen.
This is not a bash on the NHS - but my experience in relation to my dear Mum was that you cannot assume they are doing all that they should.
Not wishing to be negative but don't assume the hospital is doing its best for your husband. Be assertive. Look at his food and drink charts - they should be at the bottom of his bed. Ask for his care plan. If you didn't speak to a dr today, say you require a meeting/telephone call to discuss concerns/treatment/plans going forward asap. If necessary, ask the questions in a letter and state your concerns. In the NHS, if its not recorded, it didn't happen.
This is not a bash on the NHS - but my experience in relation to my dear Mum was that you cannot assume they are doing all that they should.
Sally71
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Parent of person with diabetes
General ward staff don’t tend to be too clued up on diabetes either, unfortunately. Try to speak to a diabetes specialist or endocrinologist to make sure your husband is getting the correct care on that front. Hope you can get some answers soon x
I think they are choosing his meals for him He seems to be having food that is suitable for him I spoke to the doctor today but only a junior doctor got a few answers but the consultant is going round tomorrow so I will should have more answers tomorrow tomorrow
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