I have a question about my husband. He has type II diabetes and is on glucophage, gluctrol xl , altace and cholosteral meds. His sugar is always near or over 200. He was recently on Avanda but he quit taking it as he was very swollen in his feet . He has had a sinus infection now for 3 months or more and cough or should I say hacks 24 hrs a day and is sick all the time, not to mention he says diabetes makes him mean and in a bad mood ( he is nasty and yells all the time and says its his diabetes making him do so ) does diabetes make you mean ??? he says its chemical and he can't help it !! but my friend has type II also and she isn't that way .. all moody and mean . Plus he says now he won't go to the doctor because he dosen't have time to find out why he's soo sick .. someone please help .. Maybe a suggestion or 2 ? I can't take much more of him being ill and his moods are just getting worse and worse. Im at the end of my rope here. Last time he went to the dr he was told if his sugar dosen't come down he was going to be put on insulin ! He told me he won't go on it since his diabetes will kill him anyways and hes going to loose his feet or his legs so why bother !! Some please help me ! is there some support group for spouses of diabetics? I know it sounds selfish but I don't know how much more I can take .... it is truly depressing to have to hear him say hes sick everday of his life . Im sure there has to be a better way for him .. any suggestions? anyone out there have very erractic mood swings due to their diabetes? have to lie down all the time? I feel really alone on this. any help would be appreciated. Its got me really down . Thanks for your help .. oh and his blood sugar was 278 tonight and that was on the low side . I've seen it at 522 !

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Hugs from Purple =)

He really needs to see a doctor if his sugar is consistantly at 200. He very well may not be feeling well, and he needs to talk to his doctor about it and his other problems because it appears that the meds he's taking are not effective.

Having said that, your husband sounds depressed (I don't blame him either) and this is probably the reason he is being nasty. He probably needs some counseling as well as medical attention.

Purple -
With blood sugars running between 200 and over 500, no wonder your husband feels so lousy!

But, no, it's probably not the high blood sugars that are making him so mean. Actually, that would be more likely to happen with a low blood sugar reaction. I agree with Lady..he sounds like he definitely needs some counseling.

Yes, diabetes is a serious illnesss, but no, it doesn't necessarily kill you or cause amputations. In fact, the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial that was done a few years back proved that good blood glucose control actually does minimize the possiblity of complications.

Somehow your husband is going to have to come to grips with the fact that, to a certain extent, the control is all in his own hands. He's the only one that can follow the diet, he's the only one that can take his medications, he's the only one who can work with the doctor to find a regimen he can live with that also controls his blood sugars.

You may want to talk to his doctor yourself, and let him know how abusive your husband is being over this. You also do not need to buy into his excuse that it's the diabetes talking! Let him know you expect him to take care of himself so that he can feel better.

Also, you may want to contact the American Diabetes Association at www.diabetes.org (http://www.diabetes.org) and see if they have any information that could be helpful to you.

I cant offer much advise as I am a BADLY CONTROLLED DIABETIC, according to my doctor. I too have sinus infections the present one for 3 weeks and the time before 7 weeks. I am moody, but try not to be as I know how it affects my family. I also say at least once a day I feel so ill, but really I do. I know good control helps and that I can only find the balance myself. Its been two years now and I dont feel any closer to being well. Please talk to your husband let him know you have been affected by his moods. If he has to go on Insulin he may get a suprise and feel a little better, but let him know you know how ill diabetics can become. Infections are more severe for diabetics, especially if his sugar levels get so high. Since my husband has been educated about diabetes, his support has improved and he is more sympathetic. Sometimes I just need a cuddle, and to know he understands is a God send.

My mood changes from positive to negative. One minute
I believe I will take one course of action, and I will
see an improvement. The next moment I believe that this diabetes thing is beyond my control. That this is
it, nothing will ever change or get better. (Mind you, I am fighting PMDD, SAD, osteoarthritis, too)
So, a lot of my moods or irritability comes from this.
I also, do not like being told what to do! I have been
a Weight Watcher which seems to be a program I want to
follow as a diabetic. (I also watch my mom, who is a
diabetic, eat like a bird. I have always had a super-huge appetite, a volume eater is what they describe in
weight watchers.) Right now, I feel my weight loss
efforts are at a stand still, very frustrated with myself. However, I am holding on to the notion that our spring has had lousy weather to really get outside
and do my favorite exercise--hiking and flower gardening. Summer, please arrive! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif (the blues)

[This message has been edited by WallSal55 (edited 05-23-2002).]

My dad had diabetes and no, being mean is not a sideaffect of diabetes. You can be a little irritable when your sugars are really high, but otherwise, not really. Maybe you sohould see a doctor. I don't know. Do whatever you need to do to feel secure about this illness. If you ever need to talk, I'm free