This is the first time I have logged onto Diabetes.co.uk. My husband has type 2 diabetes and has recently been prescribed Insulin - he has been on it a few weeks now and despite his careful diet and increasing the insulin his blood sugar remains at between 11 and 15. I am struggling to understand this and am worried about what the options are if the insulin does not work? He was diagnosed with diabetes after major surgery about 5 years ago and there has always been a problem in managing - don't feel we have had very good support or advice - any comments appreciated. My husband is 61.
-
Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »
Just saying hi - and wanting some advice
- Thread starter kathikins
- Start Date
mo1905
BANNED
Hi and welcome to the forum. If his BG readings are still high it can be a couple of things, diet high in carbs and not injecting enough insulin to cover them. Is he on 2 types of insulin ? Background and with meals ? Perhaps you can give us an example of diet.
Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
Thankyou for your response. A typical diet might be toast or croissant and black coffee for breakfast, light lunch i.e. cous cous and chicken, or sandwich, small piece of cake. Dinner, pasta, home made curry with rice or nan, home made casserole with potatoes, chicken fajitas. fresh fruit salad and or ice cream. I note reference has been made to the GI diet working for some people - perhaps this would help? Also, he has his own business and is very busy, he does not do enough exercise, partly because he often feels nauseous after exercise.
novorapidboi26
Well-Known Member
its sounds like a lot of carb to be honest......
bread in the morning, sometimes bread for lunch, cake at lunch, rice and naan [these are a nightmare for me as a type 1], fruit salad also could be bad........
I think cutting the carbs right down and as you say think about low GI foods that only impact the blood sugar slowly.....
As a type 1 I even need to do this to get good results.....
it would be very worth it getting a blood glucose monitor which he could use to build up a database of foods that work for him, and those that don't, as there could be foods that you would think would be good, low GI and carb, but then just dont work for an individual..
Well done for getting advice though, hes a lucky man......
bread in the morning, sometimes bread for lunch, cake at lunch, rice and naan [these are a nightmare for me as a type 1], fruit salad also could be bad........
I think cutting the carbs right down and as you say think about low GI foods that only impact the blood sugar slowly.....
As a type 1 I even need to do this to get good results.....
it would be very worth it getting a blood glucose monitor which he could use to build up a database of foods that work for him, and those that don't, as there could be foods that you would think would be good, low GI and carb, but then just dont work for an individual..
Well done for getting advice though, hes a lucky man......
mo1905
BANNED
OK, I don't know his insulin regime or ratio's so difficult to give specific advice but his avg daily diet seems very high in carbs. It would help if he ate less bread, cake, potato and pasta if possible. He doesn't need to give them up but try to limit them. Does he keep a diary of of BG readings or anything ? If not, this would help. If he wrote down his food, Bg readings and imsulin you can give this info to nurse/doc so he can adjust meds.
Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
Thank you very much for your comments - I think part of the problem is denial. We have not had very good advice but I also think that my husband does not want to believe that he is ill and gets cross and says I'm nagging if I comment - even gently - on his diet. Sometimes perhaps I might just need to take control - hate being a naggy housewife too - it sucks! I suspect this is a not uncommon problem with men? Am I right?
Ok thats great and sounds incredibly sensible - you know this is really helping me to sort out my ideas - think I might just need to take control for a bit - main problem I think is his anger and denial - he is a very intelligent and lovely man but can be pigheaded when trying to reason with him about lifestyle - do you recognise this at all?
novorapidboi26
Well-Known Member
lol, men and woman............
Its bound to take a while to kick in, but just keep at him as kindly as possible, once he realizes how much more energy he could have he will start to take more control......
he might relapse from time to time but that's normal, and OK.....
getting him on here to chat with like minded folk might help a lot too.....
Its bound to take a while to kick in, but just keep at him as kindly as possible, once he realizes how much more energy he could have he will start to take more control......
he might relapse from time to time but that's normal, and OK.....
getting him on here to chat with like minded folk might help a lot too.....
Many thanks and food for thought . Firm but gentle it is!!lol, men and woman............
Its bound to take a while to kick in, but just keep at him as kindly as possible, once he realizes how much more energy he could have he will start to take more control......
he might relapse from time to time but that's normal, and OK.....
getting him on here to chat with like minded folk might help a lot too.....
Have a look at the book Carbs and Cals. It is really helpful,i t has photos of real food with potion sizes and tell you exactly the calories, carbohydrate fat, fibre etc. I thought I knew lots about food but found the carbs quite shocking.
Is he overweight? Did he try to manage on tablets or diet before?
Try making low carb swaps. Cauliflower blitzed or grated makes excellent rice, courgette ribbons ( potato peeler!) is good for pasta. Swede or celeriac instead of potatoes.
Cara
Is he overweight? Did he try to manage on tablets or diet before?
Try making low carb swaps. Cauliflower blitzed or grated makes excellent rice, courgette ribbons ( potato peeler!) is good for pasta. Swede or celeriac instead of potatoes.
Cara
will do - will order on line now - thanks very much - feeling a bit more hopeful - so much of the comments are diet related. Can't believe how we have created this problem for ourselves by lifestyle and diet - still hopefully we can go some way to reversing it with the right approach.
Daibell
Master
Hi. I agree with the other posters about the carbs. Try to set a daily level of 200gm max and perhaps below 150gm. That way you can vary the food each day but you know the limit. If your husband is overweight it can be a problem with insulin as it is adding to insulin already in the blood but not being used properly due to insulin resistance. Getting the weight down will remove the insulin resistance and enable the injected insulin to have more effect and you won't need to inject so much. There are various insulins and regimes from once a day 24 hr insulin, thru mixed insulins to the best overall but a bit more complex Basal/Bolus regime where you have a once a day 24 hr and a rapid insulin for some or all meals. I'm on the basal/bolus suggested by my DN and it gives great control but you do need two pens. So, see how things go with a better diet and discuss with your DN the insulin options that suit your husband in the longer-term
novorapidboi26
Well-Known Member
you haven't created the problem so don't be so hard on yourselves, its only the symptoms of the diabetes that have now manifested due to a less than perfect diet.
its not the diet that has caused the diabetes though, remember that.........
