My husband is a Type II on insulin age 60. He is very heavy and is currently trying to lose weight. We do have a lot of stress right now- moving, my teen son, and the diabetes. He has been losing his temper a lot in the last couple of years and it is getting worse. Numerous fender benders. His Dr. was pleased with his blood workup a couple of weeks ago, though.
Tonite he is furious with me. He has been having low blood sugar attacks at night. Tonite he had a late dinner and I could see one coming on.confusion and irritability. He feels I am babying him. He had already taken his insulin even though sugar was low. I tried to get him to eat immediately, but refused. Threw insulin bottles on the floor and the yogurt. Finally got him to eat a lean cuisine, but by then he was so angry. I ended up calling the paramedics. He tried to get the car keys and was going to take more insulin.
When they arrived his sugar was 64 AFTER EATING the lean cuisine.
Now even though the sugar is up he is furious, slammed the door and wont talk to me. I know I was yelling at him, but didnt know what else to do. I know he doesnt want me to fawn over him, but he doesnt use common sense sometimes.

What to do?

Blood sugar fluctuations to extremes can sure cause anger. As he learns to control his sugar more appropriately, this should subside and things should return to normalcy. The best thing you can do is to make sure he has appropriate knowledge and direction as to how to dose himself with insulin, and how to eat regularly and test his blood sugar regularly.

There is, of course, no way for you to make him follow a correct regimen.

Phillmonica,
This is something you should discuss with your husband's doctor. It isn't at all uncommon for people who are having lows to become combative, but it sounds as if your husband is experiencing this way too often. In fact, if he has enough lows, it will make his A1c look terrific, but it takes a huge toll on his body (not to mention his family!)

It sounds as if your husband needs to be better educated as to blood glucose monitoring: how important it is, how often he needs to monitor, the earliest symptoms of lows and checking it soon enough that he can treat it before it gets that bad. Also, he may need a better insulin regimen than what he is currently on. He also needs advice on when NOT to take his insulin, as for example when his blood sugar is already low.

All of this would probably be accepted a lot better if it comes from his doctor, but his doctor needs to be made aware of what's happening first.

Ruth

Thanks so much for your feedback. I agree. I emailed his Dr. so he can review all this at his next visit. I think his problem is he doesnt always realize how low he is getting.

Yes, that's probably a major part of this. It means he needs to test more often, at least for now. Then, at some point, he and the doctor may want to reassess the insulin regimen that he's on. You didn't mention what type of insulin he's using, but that information would be important in assessing what's going on.

Ruth

I believe it is humulog 75/25 and he has CUT DOWN to 80 in am, 80 at noon, 80 at dinner.