Blood sugar out of control

[sarahnya]

Hi there, my boyfriend has had t2 diabetes for around 5 years now.

For the last 4 years he has controlled his diabetes with a low carb diet 20g carbs or less a day. However this last year his blood sugar has soared from around 7 to 13 or more, even when fasting it's around 13. We cant figure this out and he is now on a large dose of metaformin but it's not made even the slightest difference. It's there anything that can be done?

The docs have also put him on another drug which made his pancreas produce more insulin but all I can see is this has made him gain weight, he has gone up from 13st 9lb to 14st 6 since taking it for the last month. He has never had his insulin tested, the diabetic nurse just assumed he isn't producing enough insulin now because he isn't too overweight (due to low carb).

He eats 2 large meals a day, usually eggs, bacon and low carb sausage and then a cooked dinner in the evening so maybe fish and salad or meat and low carb veg such as spin ish, kale or cabbage.

But as I said his fasting glucose is 13,in the last year he has lost a **** load of muscle and is constantly exhausted no matter how much sleep he gets.

Is there anything else we can try, it's really getting us both down. I'm scared he has become so insulin resistant even with elevated insulin levels he isn't taking the sugar up and I've no idea how to reverse this.

 

[khskel]

I'm no expert but it could be that his pancreas is not capable of producing enough insulin on its own even with the meds. Is he being treated by his GP? If yes he may be better being referred to a D specialist.

 

[Ljc]

Hello Sarahnya.welcome. Others more experienced than me will be along soon .
I see @khskel has already said what I was going to.
I was wondering how your borfriend came to be diagnosed.

 

[AJLang]

I'm not sure what you mean by measuring insulin levels? There are a range of medications that can be used to treat diabetes and if low carb isn't working as you've found one or more of them will be needed. As your boyfriend is now on two of them has he been back to the GP to say that his levels are still high?

 

[Bubbsie]

Hi there, my boyfriend has had t2 diabetes for around 5 years now.

For the last 4 years he has controlled his diabetes with a low carb diet 20g carbs or less a day. However this last year his blood sugar has soared from around 7 to 13 or more, even when fasting it's around 13. We cant figure this out and he is now on a large dose of metaformin but it's not made even the slightest difference. It's there anything that can be done?

The docs have also put him on another drug which made his pancreas produce more insulin but all I can see is this has made him gain weight, he has gone up from 13st 9lb to 14st 6 since taking it for the last month. He has never had his insulin tested, the diabetic nurse just assumed he isn't producing enough insulin now because he isn't too overweight (due to low carb).

He eats 2 large meals a day, usually eggs, bacon and low carb sausage and then a cooked dinner in the evening so maybe fish and salad or meat and low carb veg such as spin ish, kale or cabbage.

But as I said his fasting glucose is 13,in the last year he has lost a **** load of muscle and is constantly exhausted no matter how much sleep he gets.

Is there anything else we can try, it's really getting us both down. I'm scared he has become so insulin resistant even with elevated insulin levels he isn't taking the sugar up and I've no idea how to reverse this.

Diabetes can contribute to muscle loss in several ways...it is one of the lesser known symptoms...leading to muscle wasting...not uncommon for diabetics to have hardened muscles as a result of thickening soft tissue... make it difficult for them to move/use their muscles... movement becomes limited...restricted...muscle disuse can lead to atrophy...a couple of possible causes spring to mind...nerve damage...atherosclerosis...wondering if he is still active (as far as he is able to be)...you need to discuss this with his health care team ASAP...as @khskel suggests would be wise for him to ask for a referral to a specialist...muscle loss occurs slowly...is pervasive... difficult to manage...needs to be addressed sooner rather than later...good luck...keep us updated.

 

[sarahnya]

He sees the diabetic nurse yes. We regularly check his blood sugar and it's not changed at all since taking medication, if anything it's actually worse.

The one to stimulate the pancreas is called Gliclazide.

He has quite an active job and we have dogs so do a lot of walking in our spare time so he gets quite a bit of exercise.

He has another review next month so maybe they can give him something stronger.

If it came to it would insulin work? I'm kinda worried he is do insulin resistant that nothing will work

 

[Bubbsie]

He sees the diabetic nurse yes. We regularly check his blood sugar and it's not changed at all since taking medication, if anything it's actually worse.

The one to stimulate the pancreas is called Gliclazide.

He has quite an active job and we have dogs so do a lot of walking in our spare time so he gets quite a bit of exercise.

He has another review next month so maybe they can give him something stronger.

If it came to it would insulin work? I'm kinda worried he is do insulin resistant that nothing will work

Sarah I have zero experience of insulin use...been on Metformin since diagnosis...also have no experience of Gliclazide...others here have so can advise on those..wondering.how often he has a review...it is annually...have you been able to discuss this problem with your GP before... as opposed to the DSN (if you've made her aware of it)...worth while to make an appointment to see the GP about the muscle wastage...possibly diabetes related...however...could be a number of possibilities...we can only advise here...believe you need an experienced medical opinion...give your practice a call...get an appointment...maybe you could go with him?

 

[sarahnya]

No we've not spoken to doc about it. I will get him to go. His diabetic reviews are every 3 months but I'm making him go early this time.

We thought the muscle loss was the diabetes as in the past he has come off low carb for a week or two and you pretty much see his muscles shrink before your eyes. As soon as he went back on low carb he gained it back and started feeling better, however now it's just stuck high no matter how strict he is.

 

[Robin]

If metformin and gliclazide are making no difference, then the problem may be lack of insulin production, not insulin resistance. Has your boyfriend's health care team considered whether he may be a slow onset type 1, and not type 2 at all? Worth asking, several of us on here were treated as Type2 to begin with because of our age, (many doctors and practice nurses don't realise you can develop type 1 at any age, not just in childhood, it's not so common that they might be expected to have come across it)

 

[sarahnya]

I hope that you're right. Both his parents have diabetes and I know his dad is on insulin.

I think I need to goto the appointment with him as he is so introverted he doesn't communicate well. I just asked him if he mentioned the muscle wastage and he hasn't. Really quite annoyed with him now. I'd have been quite pushy with the nurse if it had been me.

He is 35 btw, of Finnish decent. They do seem to have a lot of diabetes there, I think they are generally not tolerant of high carb modern diets.

 

[Robin]

I hope that you're right. Both his parents have diabetes and I know his dad is on insulin.

I think I need to goto the appointment with him as he is so introverted he doesn't communicate well. I just asked him if he mentioned the muscle wastage and he hasn't. Really quite annoyed with him now. I'd have been quite pushy with the nurse if it had been me.

He is 35 btw, of Finnish decent. They do seem to have a lot of diabetes there, I think they are generally not tolerant of high carb modern diets.

That sounds like a good idea, two heads are better than one when it comes to remembering what to ask, and what is said, anyway. I usually take a notebook where I've jotted down questions (my GP always laughs, but it works for me) and can note down anything that's said during the consultation so I don't forget it afterwards.

 

[sarahnya]

That sounds like a good idea, two heads are better than one when it comes to remembering what to ask, and what is said, anyway. I usually take a notebook where I've jotted down questions (my GP always laughs, but it works for me) and can note down anything that's said during the consultation so I don't forget it afterwards.

Thanks, that's another thing that's getting awful is his memory. I'm remaining on his ass about it big time haha. I'll probably book docs tomorrow as well as hell just forget.

 

[sarahnya]

Does bitter melon and Cinnamon actually work for anyone here?

There were a lot of positive reviews but I guess it depends on what kind of diabetes and the cause weather they work but I thought it might be worth trying g in the meantime.

 

[Ljc]

Does bitter melon and Cinnamon actually work for anyone here?

There were a lot of positive reviews but I guess it depends on what kind of diabetes and the cause weather they work but I thought it might be worth trying g in the meantime.

Hi. I wouldn't waste your money. As far as I know they have no effect on diabetes. Their is a lot of stuff like this and more out there on the net.

 

[sarahnya]

That's a shame. I did actually order some but it wasn't expensive. If by some miracle it helps a bit I'll post.

 

[Maz2]

I am no expert on this but I am wondering if it could be Type 1 and not Type 2. I have heard of this happening before and it has been found that the patient had Type 1 rather than 2.

 

[sarahnya]

Yeah I'm wondering if it's going tht

I am no expert on this but I am wondering if it could be Type 1 and not Type 2. I have heard of this happening before and it has been found that the patient had Type 1 rather than 2.

Yes I'm wondering if that's what's started to happen and his pancreas has started to pack in. In a way I hope it is this as insulin will surely sort him out. I'm fed up of seeing him so tired, he's grumpy all the time and has big dark circles under his eyes regardless of how much sleep he gets.

I had better order some ketone strips as I know it's dangerous to do a ketogenic diet if you're type one as the ketones can build to dangerous levels and cause ketoacidosis.

 

[Ljc]

Hi Sarahnya. I was concerned that he may have been diagnosed as T2 when he isnt, that's why I asked how did he come to be diagnosed in my 1st reply to you. It does happen from time to time.

Time to do a bit of polite browbeating with gp methinks.
Get an appointment asap.

Their are a couple of blood tests that can be done to discern if he is T1 the usual Hb1ac does does not do this, it only gives the average blood glucose (BG) over the last 12 or so weeks. nor imo should they go by a persons age or lifestyle .

 

[sarahnya]

Hi Sarahnya. I was concerned that he may have been diagnosed as T2 when he isnt, that's why I asked how did he come to be diagnosed in my 1st reply to you. It does happen from time to time.

Time to do a bit of polite browbeating with gp methinks.
Get an appointment asap.

Their are a couple of blood tests that can be done to discern if he is T1 the usual Hb1ac does does not do this, it only gives the average blood glucose (BG) over the last 12 or so weeks. nor imo should they go by a persons age or lifestyle .

If I remember correctly he started to get thirsty and drank continually, we suspected diabetes straight away as both his parents have it, although they developed it in their late 50s.

I think they only checked his fasting glucose as far as I'm aware, I know it was very high back then and at least in the 30s! Nothing ever developed as he went low carb shortly after and his blood sugar went straight down so I guess they never bothered testing further.

I don't have much faith in the medical system, the diabetic nurse actually told him low carb was unhealthy and told him to eat more carbs, she got really ****y at him and slammed her hands on the desk apparently. No wonder he won't argue. She certainly won't be doing that with me.

 

[sarahnya]

Well something to report. He took himself off to the gym for the last 2 days and did cardio. His blood sugar has dropped to 10,not sure if that's what it was that did it or if that medication has kicked in.