very high blood sugar after stroke - help needed

[agm1970]

hi

i am looking for some advice with regard to diabetes after suffering a stroke.

my father aged 67 has had type 1 diabetes for over 40 years and has managed his condition excellently. his blood sugar levels have nearly always between between 7-10, hes had a few 'hypos' as his body changes but nothing too serious.

last sunday he suffered a stroke, which has affected his memory and speech and has already showed signs of recovery however his blood sugar levels have continued to rise throughout the week peaking today at 29! he has been on a regulated hospital diet which we have tried to tweak - not his usual diet but nothing to extreme

it seems strange but to date the families knowledge of type 1 diabetes seems superior to date from the doctors and nurses that have treated him.

we are aware that high blood sugar can be a major risk factor with regard to strokes and we certainly want to avoid this.

if anyone has had a previous experience - i would be delighted to hear from you

best wishes

Alan

 

[noblehead]

Alan,

There is members on this forum who have had experience of this nature, hopefully they will be along soon. Only thing I can suggest is to contact the local stroke club (should one exist) or the national charity in the phone book, I am sure they could offer some advice here.

Regards

Nigel

 

[jopar]

I'm afriad that because your dad just had a stroke, most of your advice must come from his medical team..

There are quite a possible list of reasons why his BG has increased over the week

Stress, he must be pretty stressed after suffering the stroke both mentally and most likely physicaly, so this would increase his BG (mental stress can increase as the weeks gos on, due to what's happened sinking in, and starting to fear it happening again)

His activitiy levels could have decressed enough to cause his BG to raise

If they are given him medications to help or treat the after effects of the stroke could be increaseing his BG's..

He might be coming down with an infection that causing his BG to increase..

It sounds as though he needs his insulin adjusted to meet an different need, which you will need the advice from his medical team to best adjust this..

But under the circumstances of still in the very early recovery stage of having stroke, and his blood glucose being so high, I would call the out of hours doctor requesting a visit or even try to get him back into hosptial... As his levels could cause ketones and DKA (if you've got the ketone sticks to test I would advice you to test) any sign of them get medical advice, if you haven't and he shows any signs of being unwell then again get medical advice.. As he's got enough on his plate without adding DKA to it..

I would also on monday morning phone his doctor (or hospital contact if he's got one) and start pushing for them to be more active in there approach to his after care reguarding his diaebtic care as well as his stroke treatment..