husband just diagnosed

[rayswife]

last weekend my husband (55) was suddenly taken ill, vomiting with coffee grounds and very weak. after calling nhs helpline an ambulance was called and the paramedics said his blood sugar was too high for someone who had not eaten anything and was throwing up.
at hospital they identified he was constipated, had bladder infection that has spread , high blood sugars and very high ketones.
he went through a multitude of tests and was placed on iv fluids and iv insulin with blood sugars, ketones being measured constantly .
after a few days they said they think he is diabetic, not 100% which type and started him on 30mg gliclazide. on Thursday he was allowed home with a blood sugar/ketone reader and instructions to test 4 times a day until gets follow up appt with a diabetes nurse.

he would be first to admit has not been looking after himself, he is agraphobic, was drinking too much alchol and not eating enough. he is underweight. (through not eating much)

he is now eating 3 meals a day, no drink and is hoping this is a temporary blip and the diabetes diagnoses will be reversed. his Hba1c result at hospital was 46.
he is severely agraphobic and only got to hospital as was too ill to argue. I have spoken to drs surgery and they are saying unlikely to see anyone till July as would need home visit.
his blood readings fasted in morning have been, 6.3 7 8.8 8.2 7.3. his after dinner late night ones have been 11 9.2 9.3 12.3 8.9

do these scores sound ok? he is taking no sugar, doesn't eat many carbs anyhow. feel at a bit of a loss. the discharge paperwork says diabetes 2 but the diabetes nurse we saw in hospital said too early to say whether type 1. type 2 or indeed temporary..... is it possible temporary given had infection, was not looking after himself etc?

other issue... i took my own fasted blood sugar out of curiosity-- 6.4... time for a diet? I am a stone over weight

thank you for reading all that. I have been frantically reading up as much as possible on subject as possible but feel somewhat lost

 

[Drummer]

Gliclazide squeezes insulin out of the pancreas, so it might cause low blood glucose if combined with low carbing, so you do need to check blood glucose regularly.
To control type two diabetes we test just before starting to eat and then two hours later, and try to remain under two whole number increase. That might be too little when combined with the gliclazide, once it has kicked in, but carb intake is the key to control with type two, and prediabetes.
The advice to eat a quarter of a plate of carbs is - of course - not suitable for many diabetics and is best ignored when recovering from a 'blues and two's' incident. Enough carbs to stop the medication causing a hypo, but not so much that it causes blood glucose spikes is the key.

 

[rayswife]

thank you both . it is a lot to take in. we need to increase the veg it is clear.

 

[CathyB]

thank you both . it is a lot to take in. we need to increase the veg it is clear.

A good rule of thumb with veg is green or white with the exception of peas as they are higher in sugar, cauliflower is really versatile, you can mash it with a little whole grain mustard as a potato alternative or cauliflower rice. Remember also to watch the fruit intake, it’s naturally high in sugar so try to limit to 2 small pieces a day or a few berries, tropical fruits are the highest so best avoided, grapes are little sugar balls so also to be avoided. We are all different so testing is key, I can’t tolerate berries sadly but I can have a couple of apples. Almonds are a good alternative snack but in moderation.

 

[rayswife]

o hell peas are about the only veg he will eat aside from sprouts . this is going to be tricky. if i boil them to death maybe less sugar left?
hates nuts, cheese, eggs....

 

[KARNAK]

Hello @rayswife welcome to the forum.🙂 Early days yet but both @Drummer and @Anitram are correct, reduce the carbs and eat the veg. Lots of ideas for grub on the forum, just keep asking questions we`ll get you there eventually, by the way your own reading is ok.🙂

 

[rayswife]

thank you. I have been pretty much following low carb for weight loss purposes myself for last few months (and lost a lot of weight) so got fair idea . husband will just have to adjust. I agree salad and veg is an aquired taste- I never was very keen but its a good 50% of my diet now- and I enjoy it. I am sure given time and a little encouragement husband will get there- just need to work things out as its slightly different as he needs to put on weight where as my own eating has been based round losing.

 

[Drummer]

You could try bubble and squeak made with cauliflower (frozen, steamed and lightly mashed) with either peas or sprouts, or both - cook some bacon to go with it and keep the bacon warm whilst you fry the bubble and squeak. My mum used to mix a couple of eggs into it, plus salt and pepper. I got quite nostalgic eating it, before I remembered that there was no potato in it - it is really good and very satisfying.

 

[CathyB]

thank you. I have been pretty much following low carb for weight loss purposes myself for last few months (and lost a lot of weight) so got fair idea . husband will just have to adjust. I agree salad and veg is an aquired taste- I never was very keen but its a good 50% of my diet now- and I enjoy it. I am sure given time and a little encouragement husband will get there- just need to work things out as its slightly different as he needs to put on weight where as my own eating has been based round losing.

One of the advantages of going low carb is you can go higher healthy fats, the body uses them for fuel instead of the carbs, full fat Greek yoghurt or sugar free jelly with full cream 😛 egg and bacon for breakfast, avocado in your salad and even cheese!

 

[SB2015]

Welcome to the forum @rayswife
You have had plenty of useful advice above, from others managing their diabetes.
There is always plenty of help available on here so just ask.

 

[rayswife]

thank you . it is all appreciated. I am really very pleased with my husband- after initial shock he has knuckled down to sensible eating , no drink and blood testing. he even ate broccoli tonight!!! (which for worlds pickiest eater is a big deal) it is naturally a steep learning curve-and I have to admit we are still hoping his situation is more down to aftermath of bad infection rather then a perminent thing but regardless we have both agreed healthy eating in future is necessary .
I had already lost 2 stone since new year (low carb/low calorie eating) and it has spurred me on that the remaining weight must go too.

 

[rayswife]

just had GP phone.. and he does not think my husband is diabetic due to Hba1c score of 46 when they took it in hospital. (found out now a routine blood test in December showed it was 40 then) so instructions for moment are carry on with the gliclazide and 4 times a day testing and take the results in to him in a couple of weeks. he thinks scores are fine so far and wants to see what they do over next couple of weeks and also he wants to discuss with other doctors. He thinks the high sugar/ketones found in hospital could be down to the infection and may be a one off that won't need on going treatment. we are crossing fingers

 

[Drummer]

Officially, diabetes starts at a level of 48 - normal is lower than 42.
Obviously something was going very wrong.
I was fully diabetic but have had Hba1c tests of 41 and 42 thanks to eating low carb - you might be able to keep your husband low carbing (which usually had health benefits) to get back to the normal range, and hopefully feeling better overall.

 

[rayswife]

I think we will have to wait and see what happens. he is very thin as was not eating properly due to stress. wasn't eating much in way of carbs. he is now eating three meals a day so think will have to see what happens as he approaches a more healthy weight