Hubby just diagnosed w/diabetes

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-17-2005
Hubby just diagnosed w/diabetes
3
Sat, 11-03-2007 - 5:10pm

I'm sorry if this gets long. To get some back story...last month my DH was admitted to the hospital for a blood clot in his lung and pneumonia. He also as Discoid lupus, and the blood clot was recently found to be due to Lupus anti-coagulant. So he is now on an alternating schedule of 2 and 3 mg of coumadin to control his blood clotting factors. He was sent home about a week after being admitted and ever since being hospitalized he just really hasn't been feeling well, so last week I made him go back to the doctor. After some extensive bloodwork they have determined that he has diabetes..his A1C was 8.1. It has only been a few days since he has started checking his sugar levels, but the strange thing is that we really haven't seen any grossly high numbers. We were told to have him check his levels 2x day, either before meals, 1-2 hours after eating, or at bedtime. To give you an idea:

Nov. 1st 114 after meal /111 after meal

Nov. 2nd 115 after meal /110 before meal

Nov. 3rd 121 before meal/ 118 after meal (1 hour)

The ranges we were given are:

Before meals: 80-120

1-2 hours after meals: less than 180

At bedtime: 100-140

I hate to say this but he hasn't been watching his diet at all so he is basically still eating whatever he wants when he wants, so I guess we are a little confused as to why his numbers are for the most part well within the "normal" ranges, yet his A1C is high? He is also still having lightheaded/dizzy spells about 15 mins after he eats and as of yet we have no idea why..the dietician was stumped about why he feels worse after he eats.

Does anyone have any feedback/ideas they can offer? Also, I am new to having to cook for someone with diabetes, so any great recipes/websites you can send me to would be great. He is doing the dietary exchange instead of the carb counting.

Thanks!

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Avatar for cl_maryfrances40
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Sun, 11-04-2007 - 12:06am

Liz,


Hi and welcome to the board.


The A1C test is a measurement of the blood sugar over the past 2-3 months so maybe when he was ill and in the hospital his blood sugar was elevated thus leading to the elevated A1C.


The ADA has really nice recipes and so does the Joslin site. www.diabetes.org and www.joslin.org


Also we have a recipe folder with recipes that have tried and tested by members of the board. Feel free to look there and see if something interests you. But since you have seen a dietitian you have already been told that diabetic eating is pretty easy now and that it is the portion size which is the biggest concern. Don't even think that you need to make separate meals for other members in your family. We eat pretty interesting foods as diabetics. Yes, there are some things that we absolutely can't have but those things usually have a lot of sugar in them.


I would like to suggest a testing regeme that may tell you more about what is going on: On the even days of the week test before breakfast and before dinner. On the odd days of the week test before lunch and before bedtime. Once in a while test two hours after eating. The rationale for testing 2 hours after eating is that in non-diabetic people the blood sugar will have dropped back to normal. In diabetics without medication it takes 3 hours.


I don't want to overwhelm you with information and so I am going to stop now. Please pull up a chair and join our conversation. We are here to support you as much as we can.



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Gynecology

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-09-2000
Sun, 11-04-2007 - 12:55am

Hi Liz, I am the wife of a Type 2 Diabetic and I just wanted to say you have come to the right place. When my DH was first diagnosed in June, I came here full of questions and everyone here was a big help. My DH has got his sugar under control now and I still hang around here. These ladies know what they are talking about....believe me. My DH's sugar was over 400 when he went into the ER and I was scared outta my mind and had so many questions and nowhere to really turn. I have been on iVillage for years and did a search and voila....I found this board. They answered my many questions and put my mind at ease. This condition/disease whatever you want to call it......is an ongoing battle for our loved ones and finding a support system has been a big help to me and I am sure it will be to you too. Take care and hang in there, it sounds like your DH has a lot more medical issues then my DH. Big hugs to you Liz.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-17-2005
Mon, 11-05-2007 - 7:56am

thanks for the welcome and information :) I will definitely have to check out the links!

I will suggest the testing schedule like you recommended. His dietician didn't really give him one..just 2x a day and any combination of testing times. Maybe by having it scheduled we can find out when he is getting the spikes because so far nothing is showing up on the ones he's done.

I will be sure to stick around because I know we will need the support and advice from all of you who have dealt with this much longer than we have. Even though we are both familiar with the disease (it runs in both our families..type 1 and 2) it is so much different when you are dealing with it for yourself, kwim?

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