Dropping hba1c side effects

[Lornac78]

Hi, new here, my partner has been type 1 for almost 9 years and for the last 8 and a bit hasn't been keeping his blood glucose under control. This has led to hba1c of 147. Since I tried to influence him he has been getting his blood glucose under control and his last hba1c was 95. Problem is he is feeling the worst he has since being diagnosed. Saw nurse at diabetic clinic yesterday and she said it could he the rapid drop causing the sugar that has been stored in his blood vessels to leech out now making him feel worse. We are now looking to maintain at slightly higher than we were in the hope that it settled but his neuropathic pain is unbearable. Anyone any experience of this or any advice please?

 

[Toucan]

Hello and welcome to the forum.
You are doing well in influencing your husband to try and get his blood sugars under control, and I'm sure it will be hard for both of you.
I hope you are getting some good medical help and support.
There are many T1 people on the forum, that I am sure will give you what help and support they can. I am a type 2 so don't have so much knowledge in this area.
I hope things improve soon, and don't forget to take care of yourself as well.

 

[David Caldwell]

Hi
Welcome to fourm and i'm also a newbie as well with type 1 diagnosed last September..it's does seems a big jump from 147 to 95. What is the timescale between test?

This is a good site for help and support and sure other T1 can help you.

Take care
David

 

[Kaylz]

hba1c's should be brought down slowly and gradually, a plummet can cause a lot of damage, one of those being eyes, they believe a plummet in my hba1c is what caused a diagnosis of diabetic macular oedema less than a month after I was diagnosed Type 1, its puts great stress on the body to be running higher and then all of a sudden try to drop them and keep them there so although yes ideally your partner should be keeping their levels in range in this instance they need to take getting them down slowly and then as they get used to lower levels, keeping them there xx

 

[Lornac78]

Hi
Welcome to fourm and i'm also a newbie as well with type 1 diagnosed last September..it's does seems a big jump from 147 to 95. What is the timescale between test?
3 months between last blood tests
This is a good site for help and support and sure other T1 can help you.

Take care
David

 

[Lornac78]

Hi David
3 months between the 2 test results.

 

[Lornac78]

Hi we've been to his gp and she is useless. Apparently specialises in diabetes but is offering no help, started him on pregabalin for the neuropathy but won't give him anything for immediate relief . He hasn't had more than 3 hours sleep since start of December

 

[KARNAK]

HI @Lornac78 welcome to the forum.🙂 I understand you and your partners anxiety especially about his Neuropathy, there's really no easy fix Duloxetine can be added with Pregabalin although they can take a few weeks to become functional. The higher his HbA1c is the worse it will become, has anyone checked his ketones? at 147 A1c I would have thought A&E would have been appropriate. I was diagnosed with a HbA1c of 156 and that meant an Ambulance from the surgery and spent nearly a week on 3 drips, the tingling started as soon as I left the hospital and couldn`t walk very well, after a couple of weeks the pain became unbearable in my feet and lower legs. I was sent for Neurological tests Including C.T. scan and MRI after electrical conductivity tests. I was already on Gabapentin but that was increased to 2700mg a day and Duloxetine 60mg, I still have severe DPN and it will never go away but I have learned to cope with it. I know the HbA1c should be brought down slowly but reducing his blood sugars is crucial, I brought my HbA1c down to 48 in 3 months and my feet were at a bearable condition and are checked by the Podiatry team every 6 weeks. I know this won`t take away his pain I believe Tramadol is the next step but it is only a temporary measure as long term use is not recommended.

The NHS have a good post about DPN causes and treatment just go to NHS website and follow the links to Neuropathy or Diabetes, I feel for him as I know what he is going through, take care and come back and let us know how he is coping.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Hello @Lornac78

Sorry to hear about your partner's neuropathy (insulin neuritis).

Where this is caused by a rapid improvement in HbA1c I understand that it is transient, and should resolve in time. Unfortunately, it is extremely unpleasant while it lasts

This is a very technical write-up of what may be affecting your partner, which might give you some things to discuss at his clinic/appointment? It suggests most people recover over the course of approximately 6 months.

https://juniperpublishers.com/oajnn/pdf/OAJNN.MS.ID.555759.pdf