Diabetes Question - GPs?

I would give nhs direct a call

He doesn't want me to. He's stopped being stroppy now, which means it's coming down a bit. I'll test it again in a bit. If it's still off the scale I'll try getting him to call. Thanks for the reply.

quote:Originally posted by Felloola
He doesn't want me to. He's stopped being stroppy now, which means it's coming down a bit. I'll test it again in a bit. If it's still off the scale I'll try getting him to call. Thanks for the reply.

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Doesnt want you to??

Crikey if it were me Id be calling an ambulance!

quote:Originally posted by FelloolaHe doesn't want me to.

id="quote">

sod that...better a stroppy H than one who's seriously ill

plus what suggestion are you wanting people to make and how would we know that wouldn't make him stroppy too?

Thing is, he is totally fine otherwise. He doesn't feel ill, and doesn't want me to call anyone. When his sugar has dropped in the past I haven't hesitated to call, but while he is able to make to decision himself, I can't really go against that.

Time to go to hospital. he could (and may well have) DKA. Pack a bag as he'll be staying.

{hug] to you. And ignore his wishes (sorry) as he may not be rational right now.

P.S. Do you have ketostix?

What's DKA Zoay?

Sorry, Zoay, another QQ, he says he just didn't inject enough after dinner - is it possible that it would be this high just because of that?

quote:Originally posted by Felloola
Thing is, he is totally fine otherwise. He doesn't feel ill, and doesn't want me to call anyone. When his sugar has dropped in the past I haven't hesitated to call, but while he is able to make to decision himself, I can't really go against that.

id="quote">

Im sorry but glucose levels that high after 3 shots of insulin is not good news

Ketostix are urine testing sticks for ketones.

I would think one single inadequate insulin dose would be unlikely to make it so high. Has he any infection?

DKA is diabetic ketoacidosis

Is he dehydrated? Has he had sugars this high before?

Really, you need to go to A&E. He may need a sliding scale insulin overnight.

quote:Originally posted by Zoay
P.S. Do you have ketostix?

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No, only the blood testing strips. He is going to test it again at 10 - he injected 8 units when I first posted and wants to see if it goes down a bit more. If it hasnt budged I will give him the option of hosptal or NHS Ditrect phonecall (who I assume will send an ambulance anyway?)

Thanks for the advice - it's very difficult to argue with someone who is very stubborn and appearing to be 100% healthy!

If you think he is confused, please don't wait, as insulin alone isn't likely to sort it and DKA is serious.

And you don't need NHS-D - he needs to see someone in person. You only need an ambulance if you have no car or if he is unsafe to be a passenger in one.

I'm off to bed now. Please get him seen tonight. Hope it's not this, but DKA can be fatal.

Z x

Please just drive him to the hospital or call an ambulance if you can't get him in the car. My sister has had DKA twice and both times ended up in the ICU. The first time she was also comatose for a day.

quote:Originally posted by Zoay
Ketostix are urine testing sticks for ketones.

I would think one single inadequate insulin dose would be unlikely to make it so high. Has he any infection?

DKA is diabetic ketoacidosis

Is he dehydrated? Has he had sugars this high before?

Really, you need to go to A&E. He may need a sliding scale insulin overnight.

id="quote">

He doesn't have any infection. He has been high before - he's not too good at being diabetic, forgets to inject etc. It usually comes down. He can 'smell' high blood sugar (Much more reliable that blood testing?!) He's has a couple of hypos recently which he didn't get any warning signs for, so I suppose this could be similar - i.e. not getting dehydrated?

Please don't think I'm being uncaring and irresponsible. He is perfectly lucidand it's very hard to persuade him.

quote:Originally posted by Felloola

quote:Originally posted by Zoay
Ketostix are urine testing sticks for ketones.

I would think one single inadequate insulin dose would be unlikely to make it so high. Has he any infection?

DKA is diabetic ketoacidosis

Is he dehydrated? Has he had sugars this high before?

Really, you need to go to A&E. He may need a sliding scale insulin overnight.

id="quote">

He doesn't have any infection. He has been high before - he's not too good at being diabetic, forgets to inject etc. It usually comes down. He can 'smell' high blood sugar (Much more reliable that blood testing?!) He's has a couple of hypos recently which he didn't get any warning signs for, so I suppose this could be similar - i.e. not getting dehydrated?

Please don't think I'm being uncaring and irresponsible. He is perfectly lucidand it's very hard to persuade him.

id="quote">


Eek. You can certainly smell ketones. Smell like pear drops.

Same advice as before - a&e.

Does he want you to wait until he's comatose until he goes? Sorry to sound harsh.

Really am off now. Will look again in am. Keep us posted.

Thanks everyone. He is definitely not confused - he is completely with it. His levels have come down to the 20s now, so he is repsonding to the insulin. He thinks I'm totally mad for even suggesting he needs to see someone. We are going to check every 30 mins to make sure it's still coming down.

Zoay - thanks for the advice - I know you're off to bed, but I will keep a close eye on him, and if it doesn't keep coming down I'll get him Mum on the case and we'll get him to hospital.

I've only just seen this. I hope his sugars dropped.

As a long term (25 years)insulin dependent diabetic, the only times I have gone that high is when I have been really ill with infections and have always been hospitalised on a sliding scale. And then I peaked at 25.

Without meaning to worry you, and I have by no means always been an angel myself(!), your husband really needs to rethink what he is doing to himself. He may get away with it now but it will come back and bite him big time. I had two cousins (twins) who had the same attitude as him and, I don't mean to frighten you, but they are both no longer with us.

Hospitals have changed their attitudes to diet and treatment a lot over the past couple of years and it is far easier to manage now than it was 20 years ago. If you need any advice, please feel free to email me/contact me on here.

F&G x

So, how is he doing?

Any update?

Hi, sorry I didn't see this last night, fell asleep on the sofa...
He is fine, sugars levels dropped gradually all through the night, settled at 7.2 the next morning(after a sleepness night for me!) I think he was being defensive because he knew he had messed up with the dose and didn't want to admit it. He knows he has to control it better, has already had to have loads of treatment on his eyes. I'm trying to get him back into regular testing so that he doesn't keep forgetting he's diabetic.

Thanks for all of your help the other night - it was good to know what might have been in store, just in case.

I'm kind of surprised but I'm pleased. Hope it goes a bit better from now on. ?