married, with a 2yold kid, and SCARED about husband low blood sugar

rickst29

I know of several possible ways to have fewer "lows", but most cost $$$$:

Is he on a pump, or injecting? (Pumps cost $$$, but many T1 people do much better with a pump.

Do they sell the Minimed Continuous Monitor in Brazil yet? Also costs $$$$, but this would be EXTREMELY helpful. I have one from the other mfgr, haven't had a bad low since I got it! (5 months.) But my brand "Dexcom" is definitely USA only, not even Canada yet.

There is also a one maybe very helpful change, which is INEXPENSIVE and definitely possible in Brazil: Stop eating a diet with "normal" amounts of carbohydrate, switch to mostly fat and protein. Lots of nuts, meats. Such a "low carbohydrate" diet can help many T1 people live a lot more stable than trying to balance high-carbohydrate with lots of big shots.

Eating consistent amounts at dinner each night is also a good idea, and doesn't cost.

help66

THANK YOU rickst29, for caring.

I don't know much about the treatment but i will ask. He had a pump, I suppose. It is like a pen, right? I have no idea why he decided to go back to using injections. I don't remember if the had other lows with pump but I will mention to him.

What is this Minimed Continuous Monitor? He once had an exam that was measuring his blood sugar for 24 hrs. It was quite bad experience, each time that thing beeped he had to write down the metrics. Is this the same kind of thing, or would that be something you 'inject" in yourself and leave there forever? Is there any type of medication you have to take to not have rejections? I know he mentioned something about a "thing" that would inject insuline as needed, but he kind of did not like the idea of not having control himself... he's 37 and had diabetes for 20 years now... it's so hard to convince him he may not know everything... I will check THANKS.

Also, he is really well controlled normally, but I guess your suggestion on the low carb ringed a bell: yesterday we had pizza + salad + a fruit!! This morning he mentioned he had a high-blood measure before going to bed... and sure enough, took this high shot of insuline to control it (he is paranoic about the long side effects of diabetes). So i guess I need to pay more attention to the meals he makes that are not the normal ones... At least I will be able to put the alarm clock to wake us up in the middle of the night and test the blood before it becomes critical.

THANKS AGAIN. I'm afraid of going to bed. Today was really bad. I feel like I have to put bells in all doors so i know when he wakes up!

blondy2061h

A pump and a pen are totally different. If he is only injecting 2 or 3 times a day, as oppose to 4+ times a day, or pumping, that's the problem right there. Only MDI or pumping is successful at controlling type 1, none of the two or three shot a day programs some people try and use.

The overnight lows can and should be prevented.

That's likely a pump. It doesn't inject the insulin automatically, but rather delivers a small amount every few minutes, and a larger bolus amount is programmed in response to meals or high bg. You get used to the 24/7 thing quickly, and it works much better than injections. You could program a smaller amount of insulin overnight so that he doesn't go low as easily.

You may also want to look into snack bars that have uncooked cornstarch in them. Some people find eatting one at bedtime prevents lows overnight.

help66

Thanks guys.
Can you please clarify if the pump or the Dexcom MDI are "internal" or "external" use? Do they just stick out of bellie or would that be a small operation to go under the skin?
I've mentioned the subject to hubbie and he just hates the idea of having some device hanging in this body!
I have to say, being diabetic is definetly not easy but being married to one is not a smooth ride as well...

rickst29

All pumps, as well as Dexcom, have small things "stuck on your skin". Infusion sets for pumps, Sensor for Dexcom, and Sensor plus transmitter for Minimed.

But all of these things are hidden underneath clothes. Does he go to work naked ?

Better to have small gadgets attached and BE healthy and FEEL BETTER, I think, than to "look normal" but have crazy lows and highs which are unhealthy and anti-social.

But he has to want to be more healthy. Pumping is a pretty big investment of $$$ and effort.

blondy2061h

Yup, all external. No operations involved.

Mari526

He should definitely be eating a snack before bedtime to prevent those hypoglycemic episodes. A small glass of lowfat milk with crackers or half a sandwich is usually recommended.