• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Diabetic Husband

R

ROSIE1988

Well-Known Member
Messages
90
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi. I am new in here trying to get some advice and help. My Hubby is Diabetic. Has been since 2013. He has decided not to take any medication like Metformin because he is convinced it killed his Dad by causing his Kidneys to fail etc. his Father ended up on a cocktail of drugs…..

His last HB1ac was 103. It has crept up over the last few years from 46.
Recently he keeps getting dizzy spells then it triggers him to be sick then he ends up in bed for two days. He thinks it’s not the Diabetes but I think it is.

I am worried of what damage all this is doing and sorry if I sound stupid but I don’t know what to do for him for the best. Surely Metformin would settle him down?

Thank you for your help.
 
Hi @ROSIE1988 and welcome to the forum.
We cannot diagnose on the forum so I can only really suggest you get hubby to consult his GP. He could be feeling rough because his blood sugars aren’t controlled but it is all too easy to blame diabetes for everything.
Could you let us know what a typical days food and drink he has, while waiting for a GP appt. we may be able to help with diet suggestions to help lower his blood sugars. Does he have a blood sugar meter?
I have taken Metformin for five years without problems but I can understand his reluctance to take it, however there are many other drugs your GP and him could agree on if drugs are necessary.
 
As Rachox said he needs to talk with his GP.
It must be worrying for you but if he really doesn't want to consider meds does he realise the implications of living with high blood sugars?
Has he considered trying to get his numbers down by trying a low carb or even keto diet? (If you are the main cook then you could cut out many of the carbs by changing the meals you prepare.)
 
Metformin will not make much of a dent in that HbA1c. The high glucose in the kidneys is more likely to be the culprit for kidney damage since the sugar gums up the filterbeds and tubules. As a fellow T2 who also had an HbA1c in the 100+ range, I am happy to say that my change of diet to a low carb diet has dropped my HbA1c down to 42.

I too was on Metformin and have reduced kidney function now, and the Metformin must be stopped when eGFR drops low. The reason it must be stopped is that lactic acid can build up as the kidneys no longer clears it. Since I dropped my Metformin, my HbA1c rose to 45 which is a not a major problem but is the sort of effect that med has.
 
There are many other medications besides metformin. gliclazide, insulin, etc. All medications have side effects, but these side effects do not exceed the side effects of diabetes. I would not like to frighten your husband, but diabetes can also lead to kidney failure, as well as vision loss, limb amputation, impotence and many other terrible things. Is he sure that Metformin is something more terrible?
 
@ROSIE1988, there is major outcry in certain first world contries about " My body, my choice", which as far as I am concerned should be respected.

Your partner has made his choice regarding his body and stated his reasons for not taking the medication, so you should leave well alone.is my advice.
 

I can understand your husband not wanting to go down the drug route but an hba1c of 103 corresponds to an average blood sugar of 15.8 mmol/L and is likely to be causing long term damage if he doesn't reduce it. (Hopefully he is getting eye checks because untreated diabetic retinopathy can lead to blindness.)

ROSIE1988 said:
Recently he keeps getting dizzy spells then it triggers him to be sick then he ends up in bed for two days. He thinks it’s not the Diabetes but I think it is.
Click to expand...
We can't diagnose here, but I suggest he gets an urgent appointment with his GP.

And if he wants a dietary method that has successfully normalised the bg levels of many of the T2s posting here, this might be an interesting read.
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/blog/jokalsbeek.401801/

Good luck.
 
Riva_Roxaban said:
" My body, my choice", which as far as I am concerned should be respected.
Click to expand...
the concept is certainly true, a person has the right even to commit suicide if he wants, but he should know the consequences of his choice and not think that metformin is kidney failure, and refusal of metformin is "everything will be fine"
 
As I managed to reduce down from a Hba1c of 91 and blood glucose of 17.1 at diagnosis, to normal levels, and losing some weight too, just by eating low carb - the tablets made me feel very very unwell - I don't see it as a requirement to take medication in order to have normal bleed glucose levels - but I do need to stick to low carb foods in order to succeed in my aim.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn More.…