Help for my Husband

[Buttercup1988]

In that case, it may be that his levels have been this high for a long time and his body has got used to it, but levels that high are really dangerous. Without insulin to bring them down, I would be recommending someone go to A&E if their levels were in the 30s. His blood will be thick and syrupy and it is too late when something bad happens.

We often disagree amongst ourselves about various approaches to diabetes here on the forum but I think we would be pretty unanimous in saying that your husband is playing Russian roulette with levels that high and not taking any medication or dietary action to manage his diabetes. It is his choice of course, but these spells he is getting could well be an indication that is body is no longer coping. I really hope you can talk some sense into him for your sake if not his.

 

[Buttercup1988]

Thanks Barbara. Yes indeed. Some hard conversations are going to be had bless him. But something has to be done. Thank you.

Am thinking of getting the Monitor you can put in your arm. You say you love it. Did you get it from Amazon? And is it very expensive to run? Thank you

 

[Bruce Stephens]

Yes it’s a U.K. Monitor. A Sinocare. it is high. I did a second test ten mins later and it just said HI. Trouble is he doesn’t feel unwell. He never feels thirsty or needs lots of trips to the loo.

Presuming the tests are done correctly and the machine isn't broken (it's important to wash hands before testing, etc.) that seems a bad sign: such high levels really should feel bad, and his kidneys ought to be trying to excrete the excess glucose. (The tests probably are correct: the high HbA1c indicates poor control.)

 

[Buttercup1988]

Yep. I have done the test in myself twice too and it came up as 6. And the kit is brand new. We are just confused that all his other tests are good and normal and he literally doesn’t feel I’ll. except for this Vertigo thing that sets him off. We are going to still go to ENT in September. But in the meantime I want him to think about Metformin to see if that helps. When you take Metformin do you still have to do the finger prick tests at home a lot? He’s only terrified of needles aswell!! . Silly as he’s a big strong builder but a complete wimp with needles !

 

[Bruce Stephens]

When you take Metformin do you still have to do the finger prick tests at home a lot?

The only safety requirement is if you take medication which can send blood glucose low (so lower than about 4mmol/L). Metformin doesn't normally do that, and given how high he is now I think that you can be sure. He's still going to be much too high for long term health. (And likely if he can lower his levels to something closer to normal he'd feel healthier in the short term. I know I start feeling duller if I'm over 15.)

So nothing requires at home blood testing: right now it's just going to show he's much too high, which you already know.

 

[Buttercup1988]

Oh my! Just seen something about Hypos and Hypers. Hypos would be very low blood sugars would they? So is my Hubby classed as having Hypers with his high readings? This is all a lot to take in isn’t it.

I am determined to help him sort this and just need reassurance that with medication and or diet change he can improve. It’s very scarey isn’t it.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

I am determined to help him sort this and just need reassurance that with medication and or diet change he can improve.

No reason why not. Plenty of people with Type 2 report being diagnosed with HbA1c of over 100 and manage to reduce it, either with rather radical diet changes or various medications (often both, at least initially: sometimes if the diet and/or other lifestyle changes work well the medication can be reduced or dropped).

 

[Buttercup1988]

Thank you Bruce. That’s good to hear and reassures is we can sort this. Will update as we go along. Thank you so much! And all of you that have replied. Thank you xx

 

[Bruce Stephens]

Am thinking of getting the Monitor you can put in your arm. You say you love it. Did you get it from Amazon? And is it very expensive to run? Thank you

These are https://www.freestylelibre.co.uk/libre/ and they're not cheap (£50 for 2 weeks). And where he is now it's just not likely to be useful, I'd have thought. (Most of us with Type 1 now get it prescribed.)

It's most useful for people using insulin since it shows patterns (which we can then try to change and see how our changes worked), but it sounds like for your husband it's likely to show he's much too high all of the time and it seems to me that just wouldn't be helpful.

 

[rebrascora]

Thanks Barbara. Yes indeed. Some hard conversations are going to be had bless him. But something has to be done. Thank you.

Am thinking of getting the Monitor you can put in your arm. You say you love it. Did you get it from Amazon? And is it very expensive to run? Thank you

You would be best getting Freestyle Libre direct from the manufacturer, Abbott Laboratories. They were doing a free 2 week trial ie one sensor which is nigh on £50 worth so a good opportunity and may help your husband to engage with his diabetes.... Most guys like toys and gizmos I think and for me it has made my diabetes more of a game than a major health concern. And it can be very motivating to see your levels going down but also seeing them sky rocket makes it a little easier to say no to those carb rich foods that cause it, even if they are a favourite.... or perhaps find a smaller portion that your (his) body can tolerate.
That said, I agree with @Bruce Stephens that it might be a bit of a waste at this very early stage with his levels being so hugely high because he has no immediate means to bring them down (ie insulin) and Metformin takes at least a week or two to build up in your system to help your body, but to be honest it's impact is relatively minimal compared to a low carb diet. With your husbands levels being so high at the moment a combination of medication and dietary changes would be the most effective route.
Maybe look at one meal at a time to make changes. Something like an omelette would be a much better breakfast choice than toast or cereal or even porridge which are all high carb foods. Other than potatoes, you can add pretty much whatever you like to them.... ham, cheese, mushrooms, peppers, onion, courgettes ...whatever he likes or needs using up in the fridge. Bacon and eggs is also low carb but need to avoid the beans and hash browns and toast. Again, mushrooms are fine and a tomato. Probably best not to have bacon every morning. For a light low carb breakfast, many of us have creamy Greek style natural yoghurt, with a few berries like rasps and strawberries (berries are the lowest carb fruits) and some mixed seeds. Flavoured yoghurts are often full of sugar and starches to thicken them, especially the low fat ones, so full fat natural yoghurt can be a better choice and the creamy Greek yoghurt is just delicious. I buy it by the kg and it lasts a week... Yum!

All carbs are broken down into glucose by the digestive system and absorbed into the blood stream. Once your husband starts putting less carbs into his system, there will be less glucose going into his blood stream and his body will have a much better chance of dealing with it. He currently has a large backlog of glucose in his blood that his body is unable to process and every time he eats carbs he is swamping his system further. It is a bit like a sink that is over flowing. The obvious first step is to turn the tap off.

If you need any more ideas or suggestions please ask and wishing you lots of luck in persuading him that it is time to manage his diabetes, rather than ignore it. If you can instigate an after evening meal walk that would also be beneficial, but don't push too hard in too many directions at once. Small steps and changes will all help.

Let us know how you get on and do ask if there is anything you don't understand.

 

[rebrascora]

Oh my! Just seen something about Hypos and Hypers. Hypos would be very low blood sugars would they? So is my Hubby classed as having Hypers with his high readings? This is all a lot to take in isn’t it.

I am determined to help him sort this and just need reassurance that with medication and or diet change he can improve. It’s very scarey isn’t it.

Your husband is likely permanently hyper.
I can sometimes start to feel sluggish at 10 but at 15 I just feel rough and want to sleep but that is because I do my utmost to keep my levels in range (below 10) as much as possible. If your husband's levels have been high for a long time then his body has got used to them, but those high levels can still be doing slow silent damage to the fine blood vessels in his eyes and feet and kidneys etc. which may not show now but could suddenly become apparent, by which time it might be too late. I think I was reading somewhere that more than half the people who are registered blind are diabetic and amputations may well be a similar figure. It is just not worth taking the risk by not managing your diabetes.

 

[trophywench]

Why does your husband not feel ill with such high blood glucose a minute later it was too high for the meter to read accurately? (at which point it just read HI - which is not a cheery way of saying Hello, but is the abbreviation they all use for HIGH)

Because his blood glucose increased to that point very gradually, which means he's had too high blood glucose for at least months, if not years, already.

NOT GOOD.

I'm glad all his other results look OK, but none of them you mention are actually indicative of diabetes - only the HbA1C one which you said was 103, is indicative - and anything from 48 upwards = diabetes.

 

[Buttercup1988]

Good morning all.

Do any of you know or have a link for an outline for a good diet/way of eating that’s good for Diabetes 2. There is so much online it’s confusing. I know Carbs are not so good but it’s ok to have some isn’t it? Indeed important to have some.

I’m going to do it with my Hubby to support him and I could do with losing 2 stones. Especially as I have Ovarian Cysts and more than likely am due for surgery at some point. So we are in it together. I’m hoping to improve our diets and exercise more will help us a lot.

Many thanks in advance.

 

[Drummer]

Good morning all.

Do any of you know or have a link for an outline for a good diet/way of eating that’s good for Diabetes 2. There is so much online it’s confusing. I know Carbs are not so good but it’s ok to have some isn’t it? Indeed important to have some.

I’m going to do it with my Hubby to support him and I could do with losing 2 stones. Especially as I have Ovarian Cysts and more than likely am due for surgery at some point. So we are in it together. I’m hoping to improve our diets and exercise more will help us a lot.

Many thanks in advance.

I'm a bit keen on low carb eating - but those numbers worry me - I'd have been on about contacting someone for help and advice, as those numbers are much higher than I was at diagnosis and I was called a very bad diabetic.

Whilst lower carb foods can help many ordinary type 2s immensely, my Hba1c was 91 and blood glucose 17.1 at diagnosis, so I can only emphasis that like others have written, we suspect something more than ordinary type 2 and you should seek medical advice as soon as possible rather than waiting until September.

 

[Buttercup1988]

Thanks you. Please what do you mean we all suspect something more than just Ordinary Type 2 Diabetes?

 

[Inka]

Thanks you. Please what do you mean we all suspect something more than just Ordinary Type 2 Diabetes?

As said earlier in the thread, your husband might have Type 1.5 diabetes which is related to Type 1, and which dietary measures alone won’t help. If so, he will need insulin.

With blood sugars of 33 your husband needs medical input and support. He needs to speak to his GP surgery and explain clearly how high his blood sugar is. High blood sugar can cause damage to the eyes, kidneys and blood vessels over time. It can also cause more immediate bad effects when it’s very high, as your husband’s is.

 

[Buttercup1988]

Oh I see! How do we find out if he has T1.5 ? Back to the Dr but will he do another different test? And will we have to push for that.? Our GP is dismissive at the best of times…thank you.

 

[Inka]

Oh I see! How do we find out if he has T1.5 ? Back to the Dr but will he do another different test? And will we have to push for that.? Our GP is dismissive at the best of times…thank you.

There are two blood tests that could help: the Type 1 antibodies test and the C Peptide test. Those help determine diabetes type.

Whatever type he is, he needs support now. Why not ask if he can speak to a nurse if the GP is busy or dismissive?

 

[Buttercup1988]

There are two blood tests that could help: the Type 1 antibodies test and the C Peptide test. Those help determine diabetes type.

Whatever type he is, he needs support now. Why not ask if he can speak to a nurse if the GP is busy or dismissive?

On it. Thank you

 

[Leadinglights]

Good morning all.

Do any of you know or have a link for an outline for a good diet/way of eating that’s good for Diabetes 2. There is so much online it’s confusing. I know Carbs are not so good but it’s ok to have some isn’t it? Indeed important to have some.

I’m going to do it with my Hubby to support him and I could do with losing 2 stones. Especially as I have Ovarian Cysts and more than likely am due for surgery at some point. So we are in it together. I’m hoping to improve our diets and exercise more will help us a lot.

Many thanks in advance.

You could try this link for a dietary approach which would benefit you both so having the same meals would make things easier and not make him feel as if he was not eating normally. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/