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Partner with Type 2 diabetes - increase in gliclazide / other problems

Molly56

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,844
Type of diabetes
Don't have diabetes
Treatment type
I do not have diabetes
I am living with my partner who has type 2 diabetes , which is basically not under control. After his last review on Friday he has been put on the maximum dosage of Metformin (4 x 500mg modified release = 2000mg per day) plus the maximum dosage of Gliclazide (4 x 80mg = 320mg per day) which he takes half of in the morning and the other half in the evening.

The dose of Gliclazide has been effectively doubled to try to get control of his blood glucose levels (currently 10mm / HbA1c 64mm / 8%)

Amongst many other concerns about him not taking control of his diabetes (as discussed in my other posts) one of my concerns is the choice of alcohol. He doesn’t drink a lot, in fact he has cut down considerably since I first met him a few years ago but he has recently taken to drinking cans or bottles of cider (perhaps a couple a day, three or four days a week on average).

I am not trying to be a killjoy here but am just concerned that his choice of alcohol is not helping his diabetes and in fact it is having a detrimental effect on his bg levels. I don’t know much about alcohol not being a drinker myself but would have thought that cider would be perhaps one of the worst in terms of its sugar content – unfortunately they don’t tend to list the ingredients on the side of the can but common sense says that anything derived from fermented apples must be very high in sugar!

Should I actively discourage cider and if so what else would you suggest as an alternative tipple?

Am also concerned of the effect this will have with the increased dosage of Gliclazide and the potential for hypos - reading the leaflet enclosed with the tablets it does suggest to avoid alcohol when taking this medication.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be welcomed.
 
I know nothing about Gliclazide. However, for BS levels, all alcohol should be limited, but red wine is the one that seems to come out best as a drink. In moderation of course. Beer is like drinking sugar. I imagine cider is, too, although I may get corrected on that. Some spirits are OK providing the mixer drink is sugar free.

Are you getting anywhere with him as regards his eating habits?
 
I had a discussion about this last night with my dad. He is also type 2, but still makes no effort to control it and is now injecting insulin. His blood sugar levels are way into the teens at most times. We had a family night where we got take-away curry last night. Now I did have carbs - a small piece of naan and a spoonful of rice, along with lamb and spinach, a taster of some chick peas and some chicken tikka. I drank wine. My Dad had a whole peshwari naan, a whole portion to himself of meat curry, a whole portion of mushroom rice, and washed it down with cider. I tried to say it was nearly all the wrong choices, but he says it's his life.

Ok, but then we were playing board games and he couldn't see to read the game cards. He said he'd been to the optician, but they can't do anything for his left eye to improve the sight as it's something to do with his diabetes. He already has numb feet and fingers. This is the way it'll go - a slow diabetic decline - but as he says, it's his life. I don't want my dad to go this way, but I can't do anything if he won't do anything. All I can do is change things for me. I'm not going to go the same way.

It's really sad, but what can we do for our loved ones? Maybe showing your partner pictures, or telling him how my dad has got on, might have some effect, but I know I myself didn't do much about my condition for years. You have to want to do it, and I don't think there's much that makes you do something until you see the light. For me it was being refused an operation. Your partner need a what's in it for him moment.

Has he ever read all the replies you've had on here? Maybe print them off and plonk them in front of his nose! It must be so frustrating for you though!
 
Here is a breakdown for Cider, 1 Cup has 29G Carbs of this 27 g of Sugar, so not the best drink

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 cup
Amount Per Serving
Calories from Fat 2
Calories 117
% Daily Values*
Total Fat 0.27g 0%
Saturated Fat 0.047g 0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.082g
Monounsaturated Fat 0.012g
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 7mg 0%
Potassium 295mg
Total Carbohydrate 28.97g 10%
Dietary Fiber 0.2g 1%
Sugars 27.03g
Protein 0.15g
Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 4%
Calcium 2% Iron 5%
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Nutrition Values are based on USDA Nutrient Database SR18
 
Sorry this is beers only, but it gives you an idea of how varied it can be.

Beer UK pint(568ml)

Marstons Low C 3.41

Bindings Diat Pils 3.98

Miller Lite 4.26

Michelob Ultra 4.43

Coors Light 7.55

Corona Light 8.63

Amstel Light 8.63

Holsten Pils 11.19

Becks 11.36

Carlsberg 15.34

Stella Artois 16.76

Budweiser 17.32

Foster's Lager 17.61

Guiness 18.18

Foster's Ice 18.18

Michelob 20.11

Grolsh 21.58

Smirnoff Ice 44.30

WKD 60.61

Here's something to compare beers against cider, http://greatist.com/health/beer-or-cider-healthier. I'd be more worried about the calories than the carbs. Personally I gave up alcohol, I don't have to think about it now, calories or carbs.
 
Molly, I can only tell from my own experience. But when I want a tipple, I will go for a whisky with plain water. Other spirits like rum, gin and the like could also be OK provided they are not diluted/accompanied by a sweet drink. Dry (unsweet) redwine may also do.

But I will always avoid cider and white wines - too much sugar in them.

annelise
 
Bluetit1802 said:
Are you getting anywhere with him as regards his eating habits?
Click to expand...

Am trying my best to make sure that we eat as healthy as possible when we have a meal together but as mentioned in other posts I cannot be held responsible for what he chooses to eat when he goes out for lunch or what he buys and eats at home whilst I am at work.....he is retired and I work part time.

Based on his recent change in medication (doubling dose of gliclazide to maximum dosage of 320mg per day) I think I will have to try to encourage him to eat breakfast in order to make sure his medication does not cause any problems - can only remind him and encourage him as I can't make him do anything he doesn't want to and hard to change the habits of a lifetime.

The nurse did back me up by stressing the importance of eating breakfast the other day when I mentioned about this and asked how it would affect his tablets but don't think he actually registered the advice...basically if I hadn't gone with him he would not have a clue what to do.

On a positive note we do now have a blood test kit (supplied due to change in meds) so have the facility for testing -whether that happens or not I will have to see as he still maintains that he was told in the past that testing is not necessary.....aaargh!!!!

Am not one for quitting though so will just look on it as the latest challenge!
 
RosieLKH said:
Has he ever read all the replies you've had on here? Maybe print them off and plonk them in front of his nose! It must be so frustrating for you though!
Click to expand...

Was considering your suggestion about printing off the replies I had from the forum members and leaving them for him to read when I go out one day.....had already considered this as an option but had not come to the conclusion of whether it would help the situation or not but it is certainly a possibility.

Definitely one to consider if my levels of frustration reach crisis point one day .....am conscious of needing to maintain my own health and sanity under the circumstances ....am still holding it together at the moment.

Perhaps a carefully picked selection would be best!

Thanks to everyone who has replied to my posts so far and for your support and advice
 
To be honest I think it will depend on the type and level of the diabetes, but alcohol is not healthy for anyone.
Ees niice thooo
 
this is too difficult said:
To be honest I think it will depend on the type and level of the diabetes, but alcohol is not healthy for anyone.
Ees niice thooo
Click to expand...
And hopefully it makes you feel less grumpy......ref your post yesterday to my other thread.....
 
this is too difficult said:
hope I wasn't too unpleasant.
Click to expand...
Don't worry you weren't .....in fact your comment was quite complimentary so thank you. I can see from your other posts that you had a reason to be grumpy....hope things work out for you.
Take care and keep smiling .....I remember reading somewhere that it takes more muscles to frown than to smile so depending how much energy you want to exert smiling is the recommended option!
 
That is good because frowning is my only exercise. but here is a smile for you
 
The print offs from your thread may not help Kevs thread should. l have met Kev and his family and he is genuine...
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/terminal-and-scared.48758/

Unable to link as am on my phone. Do not mistake it for terminal and scared update you need the original to understand all that Kev is going through while dying...max 18mths
 
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