Advice please

[Dennydimps]

Hi my husband was diagnosed over a week ago I took him to A&E after I had an inkling he was diabetic (thirst going to the loo a lot etc) so I borrowed a glucose monitor from work I nearly fell off the bed when I saw the reading I checked everyone else in the house as I thought the machine was broken 32.6!! We were sent home with a 7 day supply of metformin 500mg to take twice a day and told to contact our GP, GP did a telephone consultation on the Monday didn't want to see him just wanted him to have more bloods done we did this I called the surgery to see what happens next and if the results were back they've just prescribed more metformin at the same dose and rate without even checking him or his levels he has an appointment to see the practice nurse on Tuesday he's been off work and in bed all week we have had no advice on diabetes what to do and what not to do no referrals to specialists etc is this normal practice? I went out and brought a glucose monitor as he's still thirsty etc they're still extremely high yesterday 19.4 today 33+ I'm so worried about him but health professionals don't seem to be any advice would be greatly received I just didn't know where else to go.
Thanks for reading Clare x

 

[Grogg1]

Hi Clare. Disappointing our GP isn't being more helpful. I'm only 2 months into being diagnosed so no expert but my levels were high when diagnosed. I was prescribed metformin. I immediately changed my diet to reduce carbs so out went potatoes, rice, pasta and bread along with most fruit (only berries in small quantity). Still in for me is cheese, chicken, tofu, butter, milk & cream (others eat fish but I dislike seafood)! I also increased activity so instead of sitting watching TV I go on my boring stepper machine! Within 2 weeks my blood sugars were in single figures. Someone more experienced will be along with better, more helpful advice I'm sure.

 

[Dennydimps]

Hi Clare. Disappointing our GP isn't being more helpful. I'm only 2 months into being diagnosed so no expert but my levels were high when diagnosed. I was prescribed metformin. I immediately changed my diet to reduce carbs so out went potatoes, rice, pasta and bread along with most fruit (only berries in small quantity). Still in for me is cheese, chicken, tofu, butter, milk & cream (others eat fish but I dislike seafood)! I also increased activity so instead of sitting watching TV I go on my boring stepper machine! Within 2 weeks my blood sugars were in single figures. Someone more experienced will be along with better, more helpful advice I'm sure.

Thank you so much for your reply you've given me more info than any health professional so far glad to hear you are doing well and got it under control. Clare x

 

[Grogg1]

Thank you so much for your reply you've given me more info than any health professional so far glad to hear you are doing well and got it under control. Clare x

Also when to test. Standard advice is upon waking to get fasting level. Then before each meal and two hours after each meal. This way you find the foods that send your blood sugar high. There is something called dawn phenomenon which means your waking level is high as your liver produces glucose to give you energy to wake up etc.

Small targets with blood glucose reading. No more than a rise of 2 after eating. So if 10 before a meal aim for no more than 12 two hours later. Exericse helps your body deal with sugar so a brisk walk after a meal is recommended though I find walking before I have lunch in work helps me too.

Eventually you are aiming for waking and before meals of 4-6 and after meals under 8.5 but small steps. My first target was to get into single figures! The medication takes a while to kick in I believe and also note that as his sugar levels drop his eyesight might change temporarily. I had a thread on it when it happened to me. My eyesight has now returned to normal.

 

[Dave W]

@Dennydimps , Don't panic Clare! You'll get things under control soon, but it can take a while for medication to kick in. As @Grogg1 has said, cut down or remove carbohydrates and you should see a pretty steady reduction in BG levels. It took me a couple of months to get my BG down from the sky-high levels I started with, but now a year later my levels are well within limits and pretty well stable for a T2.
As Grogg1 says - "Small steps." And don't expect all your tests to be satisfactory, there's always a few blips but so long as the general trend is going the right way there's no reason to worry.

 

[Dennydimps]

Thank you Dave he's had problems with his legs prior to diagnosis which I now think is all connected he's also having problems with his eyes but I'm tagging along with him when he sees the nurse on Tuesday because he won't ask the questions I've never seen him so poorly will test at the correct times and see how we go.
Clare x

 

[Pumper_Sue]

If the symptoms were sudden onset are you sure he is type 2 and not type 1 those numbers are massively high. Is your hubby carrying excess weight? Also check his breath to see if he smells of pear drops if he does get him straight back to the hospital.

 

[Dennydimps]

We haven't been told if he's type 1 or type 2 yet (only saw a Dr at A&E haven't seen one since GP doesn't seem too interested I'm shocked we have had any info on changes to lifestyle and diet or been referred to anyone) I've just looked at the difference between the 2 types online this is what I can't understand surely when they put him on metformin 500mg twice a day they need to check if it's bringing it down and also that it's not taken it down too low.
Clare x

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Metformin takes a few weeks to start working and it's very unlikely to take blood glucose to low. Your husbands blood sugar is 5 times higher than it should be.

 

[Dennydimps]

Exactly why I'm so worried I'm a healthcare support worker I look after sick babies and children in a hospice one of the children has a protocol where he has to have correction dose of insulin if above 14 so I knew his reading wasn't good I thought the machine was faulty so tried it on myself and my daughter before trying it on hubby again im just stressed out and so worried to see him like this.
Clare x

 

[Dave W]

Claire, I can totally empathise with your stress and worry. You've had a pretty rough ride so far and a raw deal and you really need much better answers from the health professionals. So you'll have to push for it. When you see the nurse on Tuesday explain your concerns, present her with your own BG readings and see what she says. If you get a load of flannel insist on an urgent appointment with your GP. If you don't get a satisfactory interview with the GP then insist on an urgent appointment with a diabetes consultant. Don't be backward about coming forward, you are entitled to the best available advice and if you don't think you are receiving it demand a second opinion.

 

[Dennydimps]

Thanks Dave I'm going to write all my questions down so I don't forget anything, if this is how diabetes patients are treated and left in the dark I think it might be time for an overhaul with GPS and their surgeries receiving better education.
Clare x

 

[Grannylorraine]

Sorry I don't have any advice for you, but I hope you get some answers. I agree that the support for diabetes patients is poor, I was given a prescription and a piece of paper that basically said nothing, told to lose weight and then waved out of the surgery door. Everything I have learn't so far, has been from the wonderful people on this forum.