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hello
- Thread starter Squashy
- Start date
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My mum (88) has just started daily insulin injections with type 2. She has been told no sugar or carbs but has been given no dietary advice so we are walking in the dark concerning what she can and cannot eat. I live 300 miles away so this makes things harder, and my dad does all the cooking.
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Hi welcome to the forum
Sorry to hear your Mum has been left in limbo without any advice.
It would be very dangerous to have NO carbs if taking insulin but how much carbs she can have will very much depend on what insulins she is being asked to take and when.
She really needs proper input about her regime and also to know about testing her blood glucose at home and what do do if her blood glucose goes too low.
Is she taking any other diabetic medications and do you know what her HbA1C is that has meant she now needs insulin.
Sorry for so many questions but it is important so people can give appropriate advice and help.
If needs be you could ring the help line ( number at the top ) but I would call her GP to discuss your concerns asap.
Sorry to hear your Mum has been left in limbo without any advice.
It would be very dangerous to have NO carbs if taking insulin but how much carbs she can have will very much depend on what insulins she is being asked to take and when.
She really needs proper input about her regime and also to know about testing her blood glucose at home and what do do if her blood glucose goes too low.
Is she taking any other diabetic medications and do you know what her HbA1C is that has meant she now needs insulin.
Sorry for so many questions but it is important so people can give appropriate advice and help.
If needs be you could ring the help line ( number at the top ) but I would call her GP to discuss your concerns asap.
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
@Squashy has another thread with more detail.
Dominic DUK
Supporter Care Advisor
Hi there welcome to our Online Support Forum! If there is anything you would like to ask, please feel free to respond! We are happy to help in whatever way we can 🙂
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Aha! I noticed you’d answered some of the me,bers questions in a separate thread, so I have combined them for you to keep your answers in the same place 🙂
Sorry to hear that your Mum’s not had much information to go on regarding the move to insulin.
As @Leadinglights says, it will be important to balance carbohydrate intake with the insulin injections to aim for a steady sustainable shift towards more in-range glucose levels.
Your Mum should have been given a blood glucose monitor, and advice on how to interpret the results. She should have been given a target range of glucose levels to aim for. It is often 4.0-8.5 but can be higher for older people.
She should also have been alerted to the possibility of hypoglycaemia, how to spot the warning signs, and what to do if they occur.
www.diabetes.org.uk
Starting a new medication like insulin can be a bit unnerving, but I really hope it allows your mum to manage her blood glucose levels more effectively.
Sorry to hear that your Mum’s not had much information to go on regarding the move to insulin.
As @Leadinglights says, it will be important to balance carbohydrate intake with the insulin injections to aim for a steady sustainable shift towards more in-range glucose levels.
Your Mum should have been given a blood glucose monitor, and advice on how to interpret the results. She should have been given a target range of glucose levels to aim for. It is often 4.0-8.5 but can be higher for older people.
She should also have been alerted to the possibility of hypoglycaemia, how to spot the warning signs, and what to do if they occur.
What is a hypo (hypoglycaemia)?
A hypo is when your blood sugar level, also called blood glucose level, drops too low. This is usually below 4mmol/l. A hypo, also called hypoglycaemia, can happen quickly. So it’s important to always have hypo treatments with you. It's also important to know what the signs are and how to treat...
Starting a new medication like insulin can be a bit unnerving, but I really hope it allows your mum to manage her blood glucose levels more effectively.
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