I have just joined and am not sure if I am writing in the correct place......
My 78 year old relative was diagnosed 7 years ago with Diabetes Type 2 which has been controlled by tablets. About every 12-18 months or so his glucose levels have become erratic and medication increased/adjusted, satisfactorily. Although GP said he may eventually have to go on to insulin injections as he was on almost the maximum tablets. He was on a strict diabetic diet. His last three HBA1c test results were 8.0, 8.7 (another med added) 6.8.
He has been in hospital some months now following a fracture. When paramedics arrived they did a glucose test showing 19, about 2 hours later in A&E down to 12. This happened before his evening meal on a Tuesday, surgery was to be on the Wednesday afternoon but was cancelled then took place the Thursday morning. I am guessing he did have one meal on the Wednesday after surgery was cancelled, but from Tuesday lunchtime then afternoon snack until surgery Thursday morning, very little food intake.
I don't know what glucose levels were after surgery (obtaining information is like trying to get blood out of a stone) but at some point when I asked a nurse she smilingly told me his levels were normal - AND THEY HAD STOPPED GIVING HIM HIS TABLETS!!!
Not surprisingly soon afterwards his glucose levels rose and to cut a long (six weeks) story short, were very erratic, ranging between the mid-teens and at times into the 20's. The highest I was told, when I asked, was 28. He was back on tablets but when it rose, receiving insulin injections. On one occasion while I was visiting and the nurse said the earlier one had had no effect.
Three days before due to be moved to another hospital for rehabilitation a diabetic specialist said that he was stable at 10. The insulin injections had been stopped and his tablet medication altered. For some time after the move of hospital I regularly asked how his blood glucose levels were and was always told "fine" and alright". I had no reason to think otherwise and eventually stopped asking. He was regaining lost weight, looking well.
Recently over a two week period I thought he looked unwell, and then one Monday when I visited I was alarmed by how unwell he looked. No doctor available, nurses seemed unconcerned. Next morning I phoned and was told he was "worse than yesterday". He had become ill after I visited.
When I next saw him he was in bed, very ill and out of it, had lost much weight (and a slim man), arms skin and bone. I asked to speak to a doctor who told me his glucose levels had steadily been rising since he arrived at this hospital. Through the teens, into the twenties and were now in the thirties. I was horrified.
They had stopped his tablets and he was now on insulin and would be insulin dependent for the remainder of his life. That was almost 2 weeks ago. Glucose levels came down into the teens, before breakfast seems to be holding at 12+ - 13+. occasionally also before bedtime. But increasing into the teens again and very soon afterwards once again into the 20s.
I don't know anything about insulin injections but my understanding is that they started them with four injections per day of 4, then changed this to 3 daily injections of 6, and now three daily of 8.
A consultant spoke to me last week and said he was satisfied with 12+ before breakfast but would like to get the higher levels down to 15. I said 12 - 15 is still high, he replied for a man of my relative's age it is acceptable, the brain needs glucose, which I do realise.
The consultant is only there once a week, there will be a review when he appears this week.
My relative is supposed to be on a diabetic diet but I have strong doubts. I have asked numerous times and am told yes, he is on a diabetic diet.... He has two three course meals a day, lunch and evening meal, both include puddings. I have repeatedly asked them to be stopped but told they are "sugar-free". There are other elderly patients in the hospital with diabetes who as far as I know do not have problems.
So why does my relative have problems? Why are the insulin injections not bringing about a stable condition? Is he insulin resistant and if so why? Could it be something to do with metabolism? Or the meals? As I said, at home he was on a strict diabetic diet.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for listening.
Gilzil27
My 78 year old relative was diagnosed 7 years ago with Diabetes Type 2 which has been controlled by tablets. About every 12-18 months or so his glucose levels have become erratic and medication increased/adjusted, satisfactorily. Although GP said he may eventually have to go on to insulin injections as he was on almost the maximum tablets. He was on a strict diabetic diet. His last three HBA1c test results were 8.0, 8.7 (another med added) 6.8.
He has been in hospital some months now following a fracture. When paramedics arrived they did a glucose test showing 19, about 2 hours later in A&E down to 12. This happened before his evening meal on a Tuesday, surgery was to be on the Wednesday afternoon but was cancelled then took place the Thursday morning. I am guessing he did have one meal on the Wednesday after surgery was cancelled, but from Tuesday lunchtime then afternoon snack until surgery Thursday morning, very little food intake.
I don't know what glucose levels were after surgery (obtaining information is like trying to get blood out of a stone) but at some point when I asked a nurse she smilingly told me his levels were normal - AND THEY HAD STOPPED GIVING HIM HIS TABLETS!!!
Not surprisingly soon afterwards his glucose levels rose and to cut a long (six weeks) story short, were very erratic, ranging between the mid-teens and at times into the 20's. The highest I was told, when I asked, was 28. He was back on tablets but when it rose, receiving insulin injections. On one occasion while I was visiting and the nurse said the earlier one had had no effect.
Three days before due to be moved to another hospital for rehabilitation a diabetic specialist said that he was stable at 10. The insulin injections had been stopped and his tablet medication altered. For some time after the move of hospital I regularly asked how his blood glucose levels were and was always told "fine" and alright". I had no reason to think otherwise and eventually stopped asking. He was regaining lost weight, looking well.
Recently over a two week period I thought he looked unwell, and then one Monday when I visited I was alarmed by how unwell he looked. No doctor available, nurses seemed unconcerned. Next morning I phoned and was told he was "worse than yesterday". He had become ill after I visited.
When I next saw him he was in bed, very ill and out of it, had lost much weight (and a slim man), arms skin and bone. I asked to speak to a doctor who told me his glucose levels had steadily been rising since he arrived at this hospital. Through the teens, into the twenties and were now in the thirties. I was horrified.
They had stopped his tablets and he was now on insulin and would be insulin dependent for the remainder of his life. That was almost 2 weeks ago. Glucose levels came down into the teens, before breakfast seems to be holding at 12+ - 13+. occasionally also before bedtime. But increasing into the teens again and very soon afterwards once again into the 20s.
I don't know anything about insulin injections but my understanding is that they started them with four injections per day of 4, then changed this to 3 daily injections of 6, and now three daily of 8.
A consultant spoke to me last week and said he was satisfied with 12+ before breakfast but would like to get the higher levels down to 15. I said 12 - 15 is still high, he replied for a man of my relative's age it is acceptable, the brain needs glucose, which I do realise.
The consultant is only there once a week, there will be a review when he appears this week.
My relative is supposed to be on a diabetic diet but I have strong doubts. I have asked numerous times and am told yes, he is on a diabetic diet.... He has two three course meals a day, lunch and evening meal, both include puddings. I have repeatedly asked them to be stopped but told they are "sugar-free". There are other elderly patients in the hospital with diabetes who as far as I know do not have problems.
So why does my relative have problems? Why are the insulin injections not bringing about a stable condition? Is he insulin resistant and if so why? Could it be something to do with metabolism? Or the meals? As I said, at home he was on a strict diabetic diet.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for listening.
Gilzil27
