living with diabetes

[alfieno1]

well we are three months into my husband having diabetes please tell me it gets easier as it really hard work at the moment anyone have tips on helping a husband who thinks it not serious i got him down to 6.5 once thats with tablets now its going up to 12,7 he has lots of other halth problems but this one has hit him the hardest.

[rosie15]

Hi my husband is the same.Refuse s to stop eating rubbish.His is only under control with tablets.He also has many other health problems.It is very difficult when they won't take it seriously.Good luck.

[Jenharri]

My husband has RA he was on steroids for many years he was always slim he put on 2stone whilst on them. He weaned himself off them after about 10 years. Not long after he was diagnosed with type2 diabetes caused by the steroids. I knew I would have to control him completely food wise he has no idea the difference between carbs proteins etc.

It was very hard for him because he loved his food. He would have a boiled egg and a slice for varying with different items as long as they weren't surgery. Breakfast would see him through to lunch blood sugar held steady. Always had lunch sardine or tuna no mayonnaise etc. sandwich never skip no picking in between. Dinner might be a salad with salmon or meat & 2/3 veg he was allowed a treat it might be half of a slice of cake etc. It's not scientific just common sense. Cutting down on the sugars. I never use low fat because more often than not they contained high sugar content.

Gradually he came off the tablets the practice nurse said he was her star pupil (no I was the star lol) bear in mind before the diet really kicked in sometimes he would not feel his feet and that was worrying!

After around five years yes that's how long it took? The doctor said he was now free of diabetes but when he says free up to a point, he has diabetic retinopathy of the eyes (mild) which comes and goes. Doctor said although it's like he hasn't got it, it could flare again if he ate all the wrong things & put on weight?

Stick with it he feels so healthy now instead of hypos etc.

Ps they still test his eyes every year for diabetic retinopathy.

Jen x

PPS they have so much to loose limbs sight etc and so much to gain

[alfieno1 in reply to Jenharri]

thankyou for you advice i wish people would talk to both of us as you said i do the shopping and cooking so i need more help than him and when his blood level is low its me thats got him there ,if left to him having sweetners in his coffee would be his idear of controlling his sugar levels

[Jenharri in reply to alfieno1]

Yes you do need somebody to speak to you both. Do you have a practice nurse?

Always keep the dextrose handy if blood sugar went to low. Quick acting and no need to stuff yourself with biscuits or sweets. Although we always had a bag of jelly babies in the car lol

Jen xx

[Reykua]

Unfortunately, many diabetic men (of a certain age), are unwilling to change the habits of a lifetime and some even consider eating anything they want as the only choices and pleasures they really have left in life. Its incredibly difficult to get them to change unless they actually want to.

It might be worth joining a Health Eating /Weightloss class together. It might encourage both of you to eat 'better', give you more meal ideas and give him more motivation and inspiration from others in the same situation.

The real challenge is changing your approach to food so even when you lose the weight, keeping it off is well.... challenging!

Wishing you all the best going forward.