My non-computer using husband (aged 78) has had Type 2 Diabetes for about 5 years. Tried Metformin with predictable results and is now on Sitagliptin and Gliclazide morning and night which appears to suit him much better physically, although the Practice diabetes Nurse was worried the doses were so high he was in danger of getting a hypo. However, despite trying very hard to keep to the right foods, ie) plenty of protein and vegetables and little carbs, his blood glucose levels will not go down. There were high hopes of it coming down to single figures but in the last 2 months he's only achieved that about 3 times, mostly it's between 12 and 13. This morning, after a couple of really good diet days, it was 15.9! He is quite despondent and wonders if he will need to move to insulin injections (he's terrified of needles!) or is there anything else he can do?
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Being good but getting worse results!
- Thread starter PJM-A7
- Start Date
Bluetit1802
Legend
Hi and welcome,
It may well be that insulin will be the next step if his pancreas isn't producing enough insulin.
You say "little carbs". How little is little? Is he still eating bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, cereals, flour, too much fruit? Perhaps if you can give us a breakdown of a typical days diet we may be able to spot something to help.
It may well be that insulin will be the next step if his pancreas isn't producing enough insulin.
You say "little carbs". How little is little? Is he still eating bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, cereals, flour, too much fruit? Perhaps if you can give us a breakdown of a typical days diet we may be able to spot something to help.
- Messages
- 5,236
- Location
- Worthing, UK.
- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
- Treatment type
- Insulin
- Dislikes
- Not being able to eat as many chocolate digestives as I used to.
One piece of wholemeal toast breakfast with 2 slices bacon and one fried egg. Tiny glass of pure orange juice (naughty but really is tiny amount). Tea with milk.
Elevenses: half a Cornish pasty. Tea or coffee.
Lunch: salad (lettuce, tomato, spring onion, red pepper, carrot, all chopped very small, grated cheese, dessertspoon baked beans, potato salad and small amount of low cal Caesar salad dressing. Tea and either 1 rich tea or digestive biscuit.
Dinner: salmon, cauliflower, carrots, broccoli, half courgette and 2 small potatoes. Never any pudding. Iced water.
Evening: about 10 cherries (that's unusual), handful of crisps (really - no more than). More water. Cup of tea before bed.
Any variation to this would be 1 Weetabix for breakfast. Soup and 1 slice wholemeal bread lunch. A different meat with lots of veg at dinner. Nothing much else varies. I know this version is a little more carbs (and he really misses potatoes as he loves them!) GP diabetic Nurse says he must have some carbs for the Gliclazide to work.
KevinPotts
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 2,606
- Location
- Cambridge
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
- Dislikes
- Unkind people, failure to take personal responsibility.
Cumulatively, if this represents a typical day, the carb combination seems quite large.
I certainly could not cope st this level.
Perhaps trying to lower this somewhat but making up the volume with a bit more protein/fat to keep him satisfied.
Welcome to this supportive community
Sent from my iPhone using DCUK Forum
Cumulatively, if this represents a typical day, the carb combination seems quite large.
I certainly could not cope st this level.
Perhaps trying to lower this somewhat but making up the volume with a bit more protein/fat to keep him satisfied.
Welcome to this supportive community
Sent from my iPhone using DCUK Forum
Thank you. I presume - no biscuits and drop the toast - but that means no carbs with his morning tablets. As he has an injured knee from motor cycle accident 20+ years ago He can do little exercise as he walks very badly now. We know this doesn't help although he does try to get about as much as he can. Therefore, he sits a lot of the day in between mucking around in the shed. Reading, crosswords, some evening TV and DVD watching so is bored. Hence the few evening snacks. What sort of snacks can I offer him? any suggestions much appreciated. Thanks.
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- Messages
- 19,199
- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
- Treatment type
- Insulin
Hi,
I can apreciate your husband is tryin to do the right thing.
Have a look at the low carb section on this forum..? Give you some ideas..
Snack wise? Cheese is good. Pork scratchings are great for that "straight out of the packet munch"..
If he has cheese at lunch - that's the matchbox size piece used up! He would love scratchings - but the 78 year old teeth aren't up to it!!
KevinPotts
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 2,606
- Location
- Cambridge
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
- Dislikes
- Unkind people, failure to take personal responsibility.
Bluetit1802
Legend
The problem with Gliclazide is that on low carb it can cause hypos, so a discussion with the doctor about reducing the Glic in favour of low carb might be an idea before he changes anything.
It sounds like you are aware of the effects of carbs are, so no point in going over all this again, but if you want to improve his levels and avoid insulin, his only choice is to cut those carbs and increase the fats. If he changes his breakfast to one of protein and fats, no carbs, that would be a start, also cut out the carb snacks and replace with cheese, nuts, or similar. But he needs to tell his doctor this is what he intends to try.
It sounds like you are aware of the effects of carbs are, so no point in going over all this again, but if you want to improve his levels and avoid insulin, his only choice is to cut those carbs and increase the fats. If he changes his breakfast to one of protein and fats, no carbs, that would be a start, also cut out the carb snacks and replace with cheese, nuts, or similar. But he needs to tell his doctor this is what he intends to try.
He's been told by diabetes nurse "not too much cheese" and the X-PERT diabetes course (of which we've done 2 out of 6 weeks so far) says no more than match-box size of cheese.
thank you, that is of course good sense.
