Carb count

[Lindatype1]

Husband 70 years old, weight 13 stone 5 pounds does anyone no how many carbs a day he should be aiming for. Blood glucose levels are high in double figures. We need to bring it down so he can have operation. He has a walk every day as exercise.

 

[Inka]

Does he have Type 1 @Lindatype1 ? What medication does he take?

 

[Robin]

I remember reading some of your earlier posts, @Lindatype1 , and I believe your husband is Type 2, and on basal insulin only (no short acting) while he recovers from cancer.
Unfortunately there is no short answer to how many carbs someone should be having, it depends very much on how the individual responds to carbs, and what medications they have at their disposal for helping control their blood sugars.
It looks like he has a Blood Glucose meter. Have you tried testing before a meal, and then testing two hours afterwards to see what effect the meal had? You are looking for a rise no greater than 2-3mml by the two hour mark. Then if it’s within that range, you know that meal is fine. If there’s a bigger spike, you may want to look at how much carb he ate at that meal, and what sort (some take longer to get to the system than others).
I realise diet may be difficult, if he is waiting for a stoma reversal. Have you had any contact with whoever deals with his diabetes either at your GP or at a hospital? There really should be a DSN (Diabetic Specialist Nurse) who can advise on diet. or tweaks in his medications to get his numbers down so that he can have his op, but you may need to push to get someone to listen to you and give you the help he needs.

 

[Lindatype1]

I remember reading some of your earlier posts, @Lindatype1 , and I believe your husband is Type 2, and on basal insulin only (no short acting) while he recovers from cancer.
Unfortunately there is no short answer to how many carbs someone should be having, it depends very much on how the individual responds to carbs, and what medications they have at their disposal for helping control their blood sugars.
It looks like he has a Blood Glucose meter. Have you tried testing before a meal, and then testing two hours afterwards to see what effect the meal had? You are looking for a rise no greater than 2-3mml by the two hour mark. Then if it’s within that range, you know that meal is fine. If there’s a bigger spike, you may want to look at how much carb he ate at that meal, and what sort (some take longer to get to the system than others).
I realise diet may be difficult, if he is waiting for a stoma reversal. Have you had any contact with whoever deals with his diabetes either at your GP or at a hospital? There really should be a DSN (Diabetic Specialist Nurse) who can advise on diet. or tweaks in his medications to get his numbers down so that he can have his op, but you may need to push to get someone to listen to you and give you the help he needs.

He has been taken off Lantus insulin and been put on Novomix 30 which he has to do twice a day, also they have taken him off metformin. We are now in contact with diabetic nurse at the hospital, they have just this day increased his insulin upto 28mml twice a day. Have to do blood test half hour before meals for another week to see if increase has helped. Nurse getting intouch with a dietician at the hospital. Once we get his dosage right we can work on his carbs intake, but at the moment we dont no what number to work to.