Difficulty understanding diet with Insulin - iDEAL Diabetes

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Difficulty understanding diet with Insulin

Whitton6 profile image
6 Replies

My husband aged 53 has had type 2 diabetes for 10yrs. He is a long-distance truck driver away Monday to Friday. His A1C has been high for a several years. He started insulin in Jan 2023 and does not understand how to maintain his levels which still vary from 9 to over 20 an Hi on his Libre sensor. He is confused about how much insulin to use, the nurse told him it was trial and error to get the correct amount.He is trying with his diet and takes all his meds, knows about the importance of exercise.

Meanwhile his feet feel stiff and sore after rest and he has been called for treatment as his diabetic retinopathy is now proliferative.

Is there an app to put calculate food/ carbs for the insulin dose and timing of the injections please ?

Any advice gratefully received

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Whitton6
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6 Replies
Zephyre profile image
Zephyre

If your husband's diabetes nurse suggests trial and error, ask your doctor for a referral to a new diabetes nurse as that really is not information to give with a drug that can have life-threatening consequences. (I'm really not trying to frighten you but blood sugar levels can be serious). What type of Insulin is he taking?

Whitton6 profile image
Whitton6 in reply to Zephyre

Nova rapid and Lantus. Plus Metformin and Pioglitazone

Handel profile image
Handel

I'm Type 1 so have been injecting insulin for 35 or more years to control it. Exercise helps to control it better but you really need to see a diabetic nurse to get some good advice. There's no app that I'm aware of that tells you how much to jab and what to eat. It would be a perfect world for diabetics if there was!!! Good luck. Jan xxxx

Whitton6 profile image
Whitton6 in reply to Handel

Thanks he just finds it very difficult.

Handel profile image
Handel

Most diabetics find it very difficult to balance food and insulin. It really is trial and error. I'm type 1 so have always had to inject insulin (they gave me an orange to practice on and instructions to eat sugar if I felt wobbly!!!). That was my introduction to a lifelong condition.

Have a diary and log blood sugars when waking, and 2 hours after eating a meal. Don't forget to log what's eaten.

I still have days when I wake up with a sugar reading over 20 and recently when I had a major operation, my bloods were all over the place with stress!!!

He'll get there eventually I promise you. Lots of love and hugs. Jan xxxx

Whitton6 profile image
Whitton6 in reply to Handel

Thank you for your encouragement I am hopeful that he is starting to get more sorted with things

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