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Worried about partner not acting like a diabetic

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Worried

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My partner was diagnosied with diabetes about 8 years ago after pancreatis (SP?). We didn't know each other then but from what he tells me he took all the advice followed the diet and with insulin got on top of his blood sugar levels. Since we met he has gone through good and bad phases when it comes to eating and drinking, but today I would say he eats more sweets, chocolate and carbohydrates then a normal person, certainly more than I do and I have a sweet tooth! He says his blood sugar is fine so there is no problem with what he is doing, but I am worried that this is going to have a long term affect on him - can it?

I managed to get him to our GP about a year ago who told him despite his BS being fine he risked doing further damage to himself and having to increase his insulin intake if he did not follow a healthy diet, but my partner chose to ignore this - I can't begin to explain his reasoning.

We have a little girl together and I am serioulsy worried about his health in the future and him being around for her. I am not perfect and have my vices so I get that lecturing him doesn't work, he wouldn't listen to the GP (but to be fair the GP wasn't specific just general). Am I worrying unnessarily? If his blood sugar is normal (or I suspect a little over normal) - are there any risks?

Any advice gratefully received.
Thanks!
Additional info he is 40 years old and works in a very physical job
 
Hi, and welcome to the forum.

It would help us a bit if you could give us some idea of his actual blood sugar levels during the day and his present Hba1c.

You can certainly match your diet to your insulin for a while but slowly this back fires on you and you find you need more and more insulin to cover the carbs in the meals. Eventually you become insulin resistant and your blood sugar levels go up and up causing complications and damage within the body.

Sometimes the closest one to the problem, ie you, is not the best person to get through to the partner about what they are doing. He really needs professional input but getting him there is probably a problem. Good luck with it anyway.
 
Thanks for your reply. I don't know the details of his blood sugar etc as he doesn't like me keeping an eye on him. i know his last two set of blood tests (6 month apart) came back as slightly above normal and it said after 2nd like that contact GP - we live abroad so system may be slightly different to UK. He has not contacted his GP, and that was 4 months ago.

Can badly controlled diabetes lead to funny odours? I've been noticing he has a funny smell for a few weeks (not a badly washed or B.O. thing) but just an odd smell that seems to come out of his skin. i can't really pin point what it smells like, but it is there.

I am sure you are right about me not being the right person. I don't think his current GP is either and I will give him another push to see a new GP now that New Year has arrived. I will also dig the diabetes cook books back out again. I gave up before as it felt pointless to make the effort when he sat down and ate a bar of chocolate after the meal, is there any point in following the recipes if he sabotages it?

If anyone has any other suggestions thought I would be grateful.

Thanks again for your help.
 
Ketosis and ketoacidosis make your breath smell, but I don't know if they effect body odour. The smell is described as 'fruity' or 'like pear drops' on the information sheets I was given I started insulin, but I know someone who was doing the Atkins diet once, and her breath smelled indescribably terrible, not at all like pear drops. It might be worth seeing if he has checked to see if he has ketones in his blood or urine.
 
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