Partner with Type 2 diabetes - increase in gliclazide / other problems

[Scouser58]

@Scouser58
To answer a couple of your questions….

"does he wear glasses?"..........yes he does wear glasses for reading and close work but not for driving

His latest diabetic retinopathy screening came back indicating early stages of something (not sure what without finding the letter, sorry) and recommended that he should attend future screening next year and keep an eye on his bs levels….no treatment required at the moment.

His reading of this was “my eyes are ok” and dismissed the rest of what it said…he did not register the warning of the deterioration, though I did!


"Molly I think you need to research the hyper side effects, and any DVLA requirements for driving."

Have already researched the latter and will look into the former more closely. As already mentioned elsewhere he does not understand why he should test his bs before driving despite the nurse telling him he should and providing the relevant equipment to do so…I know for a fact he will not do this.

Have started to cut and paste the relevant information into a word document to print off for him explaining what he should do and why. Don’t know what else I can do as have tried to tell him verbally but just ignored / dismissed……am trying my best!


Do you think the threat of the dvla being told, and cancelling his licence, would make him sit up and take notice?

Who would tell them if he didn’t inform them – does any health professional have a duty to inform them and if so, in what circumstances. What about informing Insurance company if he won’t? I can only tell him that he should but can’t do it for him.

Will be removing him as a named driver from my car insurance policy when it comes up for renewal at the end of this month.


The recent increase in his medication (Gliclazide) and his driving is, I would say, my biggest concern at the moment.

And finally a question of my own

"The high bs levels will have an effect on his balance, and his ability to move about safely"

Not sure what you mean by "high bs levels affecting his balance"…I have seen early signs of this but not sure what the exact link / cause is, can you elaborate please.

Thanks

 

[Scouser58]

Hello Molly56, in answer to the driving licence bit, the GP, Specialist, or Optician could require the DVLA to be told of driving, and maybe susupending of licence. With a hyper, your whole body is affected, and the effects can come on slowly and build up into a hyperglycemica episode. The person may start to feel drowsy, lose co-ordination for walking, talking, and driving. If the hyper G is not brought under control the person can become unconscious and then it will be a hospital recovery, involving insulin and drips for dehydration to bring down the high bs levels, these episodes have major effects on the body and organs, could bring on heart condition/heart attack, kidney condtions, and other problems, including loss of feeling to the feet, hands, sight problems. Molly please keep in touch and take time out for your self, and try to ease of worrying, and relax at bit, ttfn

 

[Molly56]

Hello Molly56, in answer to the driving licence bit, the GP, Specialist, or Optician could require the DVLA to be told of driving, and maybe susupending of licence. With a hyper, your whole body is affected, and the effects can come on slowly and build up into a hyperglycemica episode. The person may start to feel drowsy, lose co-ordination for walking, talking, and driving. If the hyper G is not brought under control the person can become unconscious and then it will be a hospital recovery, involving insulin and drips for dehydration to bring down the high bs levels, these episodes have major effects on the body and organs, could bring on heart condition/heart attack, kidney condtions, and other problems, including loss of feeling to the feet, hands, sight problems. Molly please keep in touch and take time out for your self, and try to ease of worrying, and relax at bit, ttfn

@Scouser58 , thanks for reply....guess I knew a lot of that but what can I do when he just doesn't want to know....got the reply tonight of "I'm not worried about it, why should you be " or words to that effect.
Am taking some time out to go and visit a friend for a few days....has been planned for some time....so am looking forward to a break and a good girlie chat! Will not stop me worrying about him but perhaps I can forget a little bit for the next few days.
Looking forward to a day out at the flower show on Thursday....gardening is one of my pleasures in life and very therapeutic too

 

[Scouser58]

Hi Molly, good for you, and sadly now you know where he stands, it is hard to turn away and not care. Would theat be the RHS at Tatton Park flower show?, will you be there when the last day sell off happens?, well if possible treat yourself to a special plant, to cheer up up as only a plant can1, well Molly have a good time when you go to your friends, what about a nice cake or bottle of wine, then you will smile and laugh!!, ttfn

 

[Molly56]

Hi Molly, good for you, and sadly now you know where he stands, it is hard to turn away and not care. Would theat be the RHS at Tatton Park flower show?, will you be there when the last day sell off happens?, well if possible treat yourself to a special plant, to cheer up up as only a plant can1, well Molly have a good time when you go to your friends, what about a nice cake or bottle of wine, then you will smile and laugh!!, ttfn

Yes, going to Tatton Park tomorrow (Thursday)....looking forward to it

 

[Molly56]

Molly - I hope your chap understands how lucky he is to have someone as supportive as you on his case.

I hope you guys manage to find some compromise, middle ground which will improve his lot, and ease your mind. Don't under estimate the impact of some of this, understandable, frustration you are feeling.

@AndBreathe unfortunately I don't think he even notices what I do to help him so doubt he understands how lucky he is as you say in your post.

Never mind, I will carry on in the hope that we can sort things out....am away for a few days visiting a friend (planned for some time) so is good to take some time out away from the situation, relax a bit and hopefully go back refreshed and a little less frustrated than I was......some time out for myself will hopefully help me to see things from a slightly different perspective as I think sometimes being so close to a situation doesn't actually help you to see the way forward.

 

[Molly56]

Oooo I feel for you Molly, what an a***e. Talk about banging your head etc. I'm sure at some point he will wake up and smell the coffee. Why do you think he is burying his head? He may be worried and not letting you know. Men eh - they are their own worst enemies.

@dawnmc I have no idea why he is burying his head and I don't think he is worried ...he has as much as told me that by saying "I'm not worried about it, why should you be" about a week ago.

I am at a loss to know what I can do about it or if indeed I should be worried about it if he is clearly not.

As you say "men eh" but as they also say "Men - you can't live with them, you can't live without them!"...no offence intended to all the men out there.....

 

[graj0]

@graj0
Thank you for raising this important point.

I think there's many people on this forum as concerned as you are. I apologise if I say the wrong things but who knows, there are some things that might be taken more seriously than others. If I can find a magic wand, I'll wave it. All the best. Graham

 

[Molly56]

I think there's many people on this forum as concerned as you are. I apologise if I say the wrong things but who knows, there are some things that might be taken more seriously than others. If I can find a magic wand, I'll wave it. All the best. Graham

Don't ever remember you saying the wrong things, in fact I think you have raised an important issue that perhaps others would not have been brave enough to mention so thank you.
Will keep looking for the magic wand and then I can wave it too ....wishing you all the best too.

 

[Scouser58]

Hello Molly56, I hope you enjoyed you visit to Tatton Park and were the flowers really special?. How did you feel while you were having some you time with your friend?, and what about the heat, it has warn me out, how did you get on walking about?. So how were things when you got back?, still alive and being ostrich like?.

So Molly how do you feel after this length of time, are we all supporting you and being helpful in are own ways?
I had a funny hypo on thursday, cooking some tea, and the the shakes and wobbly feelings came, sweaty and not very focused, hum, havin a hypo, my previous BS was 7.1 after lunch time, so when I eventuly sat down before I ate, I did the bs again, it was only 5, and I thought it would be much lower to make me feel like that, it have been the heat havibg an effect as well.

I will clear out the shed, I thought I had left my broomstick in there, sorry magic wand, and I will izzy wizzy lets get bizzy, or such like, well keep in touch, for now ttfn

 

[Molly56]

Hello Molly56, I hope you enjoyed you visit to Tatton Park and were the flowers really special?. How did you feel while you were having some you time with your friend?, and what about the heat, it has warn me out, how did you get on walking about?. So how were things when you got back?, still alive and being ostrich like?.

So Molly how do you feel after this length of time, are we all supporting you and being helpful in are own ways?
I had a funny hypo on thursday, cooking some tea, and the the shakes and wobbly feelings came, sweaty and not very focused, hum, havin a hypo, my previous BS was 7.1 after lunch time, so when I eventuly sat down before I ate, I did the bs again, it was only 5, and I thought it would be much lower to make me feel like that, it have been the heat havibg an effect as well.

I will clear out the shed, I thought I had left my broomstick in there, sorry magic wand, and I will izzy wizzy lets get bizzy, or such like, well keep in touch, for now ttfn

@Scouser58 Had a great time staying with my friend for a few days and yes, Tatton Park was a lovely day out...very hot and tiring ...and a lot of walking. Got back last night so not able to really comment on that bit....will have to see what the next few days bring.

Have had some great support, comments and suggestions from people on the forum which has probably helped me to retain my sanity...at least I have an outlet for my frustration, somewhere I can ask questions and learn more .....have learnt so much since joining the forum and it has helped to clarify a number of issues that can be confusing or conflicting with what I originally thought.

Sorry to hear about your funny hypo....are hypos a common occurrence for you?

Will have to get used to looking for the signs as now that I have increased his dosage of gliclazide to the maximum dosage of 320mg per day, as advised by the diabetic nurse at our recent visit, the potential for hypos will now be increased.

I think his assumption is that because his bs levels are always generally high that he will not suffer from a hypo but I don't think that is necessarily true. Perhaps someone can tell me if this is corrrect or not.

Let me know if you find your magic wand....seems that there are a number of us looking for them

 

[Molly56]

I happened to attend a diet/diabetes course in January. The nurse explained how Gliclazide and Metformin work and that therefore it was rather important to take Gliclazide 30 to 15 mins BEFORE a meal and Metformin 15 to 30 mins AFTER the meal.

I had been told that taking the meds before and after the meal was a good idea, but this was not stressed

The moral of this story? The NHS might save a fortune on meds, and improve diabetics' control if this advice was more widely disseminated.

Just found the above advice on another thread......thought it would be useful to share......might explain to some extent why my partner's bs levels refuse to go down despite him taking his medication. Have often thought that sometimes it is the way in which medication is taken or the timing which can be important but no-one had ever mentioned this before.

Will have to give this a try if I can persuade him not to just gulp them all down in one go as he currently does - hopefully I can explain the reasons behind this and the benefits of doing it this way.........wish me luck!

 

[Molly56]

Just found the above advice on another thread......thought it would be useful to share......might explain to some extent why my partner's bs levels refuse to go down despite him taking his medication. Have often thought that sometimes it is the way in which medication is taken or the timing which can be important but no-one had ever mentioned this before.

Will have to give this a try if I can persuade him not to just gulp them all down in one go as he currently does - hopefully I can explain the reasons behind this and the benefits of doing it this way.........wish me luck!

Have been trying to introduce the idea of taking the gliclazide before eating and the metformin after as had been suggested in the other thread.

Have been successful with this in the evening as I can give him the tablets at the appropriate time....but unfortunately not so successful in the mornings when I know he still takes them in one gulp and more than likely without eating (have usually gone out by the time he eventually gets up)....

Well I guess half of the time is better than none of the time!!

Have not noticed any dramatic changes since upping the dose....his bs levels are still high but perhaps a little lower than they were before....guess only time will tell if they have the desired effect.

We still have a long way to go to bring them down to anywhere near normal.

 

[Molly56]

Hi Molly, it seem as though you man is going to push himself all the way to major problems.
The continued high bs levels will have effects on any other conditions he may have, and if he has any damage to his feet they could have major problems, and if the worst happens then amputation will happen, just when do you think he will wake up to the danger and life threatening condition he has.
Molly keep posting for our help and being there for you, ttfn

@Scouser58 just reading through some old posts....and picked up your comment about damage to his feet....well the latest news is that he now has a foot ulcer on his heel.

Was probably caused by his shoes rubbing and the fact that he refuses to wear socks despite my suggestions that he should - resulting in a blister......
I suggested that he should get it looked at asap when I noticed it almost two weeks ago but he didn't see the point.

Anyway after nearly two weeks (and a cancelled / rearranged appointment from Tuesday) he finally got to see the podiatrist yesterday and she told him that he has a foot ulcer!

He is still not bothered by it so don't know what else I can do.

I am fully aware of what this can lead to and without sounding pessimistic I could easliy see it developing down that route as he doesn't consider that he has a problem.

Am constantly hitting my head against a brick wall .............have posted further details of his foot problem on one of my other threads but thought it would be useful to reply to your earlier thread as you had mentioned foot problems.