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High readings

S

silvertown

Newbie
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3
Hi everyone. I'm new on here, and this is all new to me. My husband was diagnosed with T2 before Christmas, and his blood glucose readings are still so high I'm terrified of them staying like it for too long. He's 57, on metformin 4 x 500g a day until last week when his reading was still 29. So the Diabetes Nurse gave him a one-off insulin shot down at the surgery and then added 2 glicozide daily to his prescription. Friday he went back and his bg had fallen to 24, but today (Mon) he went back and it was up to 27. We were so disappointed. But even that's an improvement on what he was like the whole Christmas period, if you can believe it, and he's been these levels or higher since his first readings in November. Yet down at the surgery they don't seem too bothered. I am though. And I really don't think I'm just an anxious wife over-reacting: surely those levels sustained for too long can't be good for anyone?

Reading all your posts, there seems to be so much experience, knowledge and expertise on here, I wondered whether anyone had any pointers for where to go next, as I must admit I'm beginning to lose faith in our local surgery diabeteswise. Thanks.
 
Welcome to the Forum. Let's see if we can help you and your husband.......

Those readings are much too high and yet again we are seeing more evidence of the poor attitude of the HCP's supposed to be caring for the Patient....your husband. It is scandalous but in some areas it is the 'normal' treatment.

So, what to do.......look after yourself is the answer. Many on here know more about Diabetes and how to control it than some of the HCP's. My pal Sue and I put together some advice for newly diagnosed which many seem to think is good advice and know that it can work with a little effort and plenty of willpower. Have a read........

Here is the advice we usually give to newly diagnosed diabetics. We hope that these few ideas gained through experience help you to gain control and give you some understanding of Diabetes. This forum doesn't always follow the recommended dietary advice, you have to work out what works for you as we are all different.

It's not just 'sugars' you need to avoid, diabetes is an inability to process glucose properly. Carbohydrate converts, in the body, to glucose. So it makes sense to reduce the amount of carbohydrate that you eat which includes sugars.

This is NOT a low carb diet suggestion, just a reduction in your intake of carbohydrate. You have to decide yourself how much of a reduction will keep your blood glucose levels in control.

The main carbs to avoid OR reduce are the complex or starchy carbohydrates such as bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, starchy root veg and also any flour based products. The starchy carbs all convert 100% to glucose in the body and raise the blood sugar levels significantly.

If you are on Insulin you may find that reducing the carb intake also means that you can reduce your dose of insulin. This can help you to keep weight gain down as Insulin tends to make you put on weight and eventually cause insulin resistance. This should be done slowly so as not to cause hypos.

The way to find out how different foods affect you is to do regular daily testing and keep a food diary for a couple of weeks. If you test just before eating, then two hours after eating, you will see the effect of certain foods on your blood glucose levels. Some foods, which are slow acting carbohydrates, are absorbed more slowly so you may need to test three or even four hours later to see the effect that these have on your blood glucose levels.

Buy yourself a carb counter book (you can get these on-line) and you will be able to work out how much carbs you are eating, when you test, the reading two hours after should be roughly the same as the before eating reading, if it is then that meal was fine, if it isn’t then you need to check what you have eaten and think about reducing the portion size of carbs.

When you are buying products check the total carbohydrate content, this includes the sugar content. Do not just go by the amount of sugar on the packaging as this is misleading to a diabetic.


As for a tester, try asking the nurse/doctor and explain that you want to be proactive in managing your own diabetes and therefore need to test so that you can see just how foods affect your blood sugar levels. Hopefully this will work ! Sometimes they are not keen to give Type 2’s the strips on prescription, (in the UK) but you can but try!!

If you are an Insulin user in theory you should have no problem getting test strips.

The latest 2010 NICE guidelines for Bg levels are as follows:
Fasting (waking and before meals).......between 4 - 7 mmol/l...(Type 1 & 2)
2 hrs after meals........................no more than 8.5 mmol/l.....( Type 2)

2hrs after meals......................... no more than 9 mmol/l ......(Type 1)

If you are able to keep the post meal numbers lower, so much the better.

It also helps if you can do at least 30 minutes moderate exercise a day, it can be split into 10 min sessions to start with. It doesn't have to be strenuous.

The above is just general advice and it is recommended that you discuss with your HCP before making any changes. You can also ask questions on the forum on anything that is not clear.

Ken / Sue
Click to expand...
 
Hi Silvertown, and welcome!

I don't think you're being over-anxious either! Cugila has sent you the basic information. Have a good read around the forum and come back with any questions you may have.

Cutting down on carbs will work on your husband's numbers, but don't do it too fast with numbers so high, or he could get 'false hypos'. Get your carb counter book, and work out just how many carbohydrates he's having in each meal and in any snacks or drinks. Then you can work out where to cut down.

He needs to test as recommended, so he can work out just how each food affects his blood glucose, and in what portion size. I can eat one slice of wholemeal multigrain bread as a meat or cheese salad sandwich, for instance - but two slices would be too much! White bread is a no-no for me. Potatoes affect me quite badly, unless I just stick to one small one. So it goes on :roll: .

There are still lots of lovely things out there to eat, though, so don't despair. Take it all in, bit by bit, and if you work at it together you'll get it under control - it's not impossible.

Everyone on here is friendly and helpful, and there's help and info from the people who know the most - diabetics!

Let us know how you get on, and don't be afraid to ask questions.

Viv :)
 
A million thanks for all that info - so relieved that in the main what you're saying is so positive. Obviouly it's going to be a huge upheaval re the cutting down on carbs, but if that's what it takes...

I was thinking of maybe going down to the clinic with him myself one appointment to see if I can get a few things answered and moving. I'd like to know if they know just what's causing his particular metabolising problems. And I'd like to persuade them to let us have the testing strips on perscription so that we can do as you say and find out for ourselves what works best for him and what doesn't.

Once again, thanks for your help. These boards are a real lifebelt for us overwhelmed newbies.
 
Those 2 links are worth a million, especially the one on blood glucose monitoring. Can't thank you enough.

In many ways, though, it's enough to make your blood boil, the way some of these supposed professionals can be so laid back and cavalier about other people's health. Certainly so far, reading the kind of treatment my husband should be getting, and knowing the actuality, I feel like saying why not give us access to all the tests and medications etc., and we'll just get on with it ourselves.
 
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