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Hba1c gone up - good or bad?

J

JJ4

Well-Known Member
Messages
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Really wanted hubby to get onto a diabetes drug trial (more so he could get some decent control and monitoring than anything else) but his hba1c wasn't high enough to be eligible but during their tests, they did find that his hba1c has jumped from 6.1% to 6.7% since December and they found a trace of protein and blood in his urine sample. He has to get his urine retested by our GP but it worried me a bit to be honest.

So, if his hba1c is going up, what can I suggest to our GP? Hubby takes his Metformin but he doesn't watch what he eats, works funny shifts and is really stressed which all contribute to his BS being all over the place pretty much.

As I know I've mentioned before, I think he should go onto whatever (an additional oral medication or insulin) to get control because he doesn't have the motivation or willpower to change anything with regards to diet and exercise (he is overweight). Would asking for Byetta be a logical thing - to help with weight loss and BS control? I always feel that our GP dumbs down my concerns and we get brushed off and shoved out of the door so any ammunition of my own I can fire at her would be most beneficial.

Or should I just shut the heck up and be pleased that a .6 jump in his hba1c is actually nothing to even give a 2nd thought to?
 
Hi jj4.
Not sure, but I presume your hubby is T2 or what dosage and frequency of Metformin he is on ?

Any rise in HbA1c is not what you should expect. What you/he wants is a gradual reduction in that figure if possible. It is not massively high but could be better.

If as you say he doesn't watch what he eats and Bg is not controlled etc he will not get better, but progressively worse. He has to accept he is Diabetic and try to take control of his life. If not there are many and severe complications which WILL set in over time.

As a Byetta user myself I know that you have to meet very strict criteria to get this Drug. BMI has to be over a certain level and most other avenues of treatment have usually had to have been tried and failed. As for Insulin, well that may be an option. It is certainly not one I would wish to take. However, I am sure others will advise differently.

He has to make a decision to take control. No ifs, ands or buts. It is HIS only way.

Ken.
 
Thanks for the reply, Ken.

He isn't in denial, he knows what the complications are but he just isn't that bothered I guess - infuriatingly, he says that at 44, it's hard to change when you're not that fussed. I just want to get those BS down any which way to reduce the risk of complications starting, if he won't change his habits well then, let's try *something* to get the levels reduced anyway.

I forgot to add my signature in my main post but yes, he's type 2 and takes 500mg Met x 3 per day. His BMI is 36 so he's considered obese.

Recently he's at least stopped smoking - for now, which is something I've been heaping on praise for.

If he could get his weight down, not only would it help his BS levels but also, it would help his sleep apnea for which he uses a CPAP machine and I'm sure it would help his high blood pressure too.

I just get so frustrated with our Drs surgery who just don't seem to give a **** about working with us to do something. We just get brushed off that actually his tests seem on the whole ok and that's where it's left. No-one wants to help him lose the weight or work with him to get his levels under control. Doing the bare minimum is their thinking.
 
Hi jj4.

He thinks it's difficult at 44. :shock: What is the man thinking of ? I was diagnosed at 49 and am now 60. I have turned my whole life around in a few months because I want to see out many more years. I feel so much better for it and feel so much livelier and have the passion for life I had when I was in my 20's. It can get much better.

If your GP etc are not giving you the service you need, then ask for a referral to an Endocrinologist. They are specialists in Diabetes and other illnesses. This is not a bad reflection on your GP, you just want to see an expert. Your GP is not that person. It is your right to ask for this. Bite the bullet and give your man that second chance.

Ken (rant over ) :D
 
I know, I don't understand why he has no willpower or motivation when he has everything to live and get healthier for - 3 beautiful very young children and me - well ok, let's leave it at the kids! :lol:

I am sure good control will help in so many other areas of his life, he has no energy, is permanently grumpy, obviously has the other medical issues and some of his old pre-diagnosis symptoms are returning from what I assume is this rise in BS levels.

If that's not enough of a kick up the backside, he also saw his father and brother both go from fine to diabetic to high blood pressure and then heart attack. He is simply following suit and it won't be long before he ends up in the CCU of our local hospital I'm sure. :(

I think a referral is the way to go, at the very least we can feel like we've got the best person for the job and someone who can listen fully to our concerns and then make a decision rather than someone who sees many of these cases per week (or even day I suppose) and who is going through the motions without really wanting to get to the root and work upwards. We actually have some subsidised private healthcare so maybe we should just skip the NHS route and try that.
 
JJ
Drag the man, kicking and screaming here and let him see what can be achieved. :twisted:

I've been through ALL the things you have mentioned. I do know what I am talking about here.
I have had major Heart Surgery because I didn't listen to people who knew better than me.

Go for the referral whether Private or NHS. You can always switch over later, that's what I did and kept the same Endo. Still with him many years later.

Good luck. Use your feminine wiles, usually works. So I'm told. :?

Ken.
 
Tell him he'll get ED, that might wake him up!

Seriously it's hard, I have a friend a bit like that, he does everything right except for his diet, and he's already experiencing some eye damage. How to get through to him that the lackadaisical attitude of his medical professionals is NOT helping and that he WILL get worse unless he does the opposite of what he has been told is frustrating as hell.
 
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