supporting my type 1 partner

[danielleo123]

hello,
I am new to this forum, my partner was diagnosed as type 1 3 years ago (shortly after the arrival of our twins). Since this he has really struggled. His sugar levels range very high and a slight drop to this can cause him to feel very unwell. For example if he tests and is around 18-20 mark this is low for him. He gets regular leg cramps and is often in pain, he struggles to maintain a job as he has regular sick days or feels hes unable to manage his diabetes around work. He feels like he is failing our family although I try to tell him often that he is not, however now we are struggling financially. His mental health is very bad, he has tried CBT and has a therapist within his diabetes team but hes not getting much support from them. I try to support him as much as I can but im stuck with how too! He needs help and so do I as I struggle with my mental health my self.

 

[EllieM]

Welcome to the forums @danielleo123 . I'm sorry, it sounds that both you and your husband are going through a very difficult time.

Since this he has really struggled. His sugar levels range very high and a slight drop to this can cause him to feel very unwell. For example if he tests and is around 18-20 mark this is low for him.

Those levels are dangerously high. What is his team doing to help him? Is it possible (stress, I am not a doctor, I cannot diagnose) that he is getting symptoms of false hypoglycemia when his blood sugar goes lower, because his body is used to the higher levels and sends out stress hormones etc when you go down from them. People are usually advised that false hypos just have to be endured while you wait to get used to the new normal but I stress, both that I am not a doctor, and also that that is a very high level for a false hypo to be occurring so that may not be what is going on at all.

My recommendation would be to push very hard for him to get some help from his team. While those levels are high and dangerous, and probably a major contributor to your husband's depression/mental health/currrent physical symptoms, many of us T1s on the forum have been there, and come out the other side in terms of improved mental health and blood sugar levels. It's not a normal state of affairs and it should be possible for him to regularise his levels, with the right insulin treatment. Would your husband consider posting here on his own behalf?

As a T1 I am very grateful to my husband for the moral support he has always provided during my diabetic ups and downs. Maybe your husband is too depressed to notice, but I'm sure in the long run he will be glad to have had your support.

I can only imagine how hard this must be for you as well as him, specially with two young twins in the mix. Please don't despair. Lots of virtual hugs from New Zealand.