[JoK]

I'm Jo, and I'm writing on behalf of my fiance. He was just informed that he has diabetes a week ago. He is 55, thin and active, so he was stunned that his blood sugars were high.

I've been suspicious, though, that something was up with him. A few years ago he was taking prednisone for an inflammation, and he developed painful heel cracks and tremendous cravings for carbs. Everything returned to normal after he got off of the prednisone, but he had the same reaction this winter when he was taking prednisone due to suspected tendonitis in his arm.

Alas, he did not have tendonitis, but he had problems with discs in his neck (degenerative disc disorder). He wound up having anterior cervical fusion surgery in March. The surgery went well, but his blood sugar was spiking up past 300 and he received a couple of doses of insulin while in the hospital. Everybody told him that it wasn't uncommon for blood sugar to spike after surgery.

He went to his PCP doctor after he got out of the hospital, and the doctor told him to wait about a month and then he would do the fasting glucose and a1c test. His fasting glucose turned out to be 135 and his a1c was 7.5%. Right now the doctor is telling him to just watch what he eats and monitor his blood sugar every morning. In a few weeks he will go back, repeat the a1c and see how things are going.

He is struggling physically and mentally right now. The DDD is a progressive disorder, he's still in quite a bit of pain from muscle spasms (still on pain meds though taking fewer of them), and now he has diabetes. He's been under a lot of pressure at work, and now he is missing 3 months (and missing two months of pay), so he's not a happy camper these days. Oh yes, they determined that he did have high blood pressure the week before the surgery, so he has been taking blood pressure meds for a few weeks now.

But... he hasn't been able to stop smoking, though he has cut down. (Argh!!!!)

We're both surprised that he is the one with the diabetes. I'm a bit overweight, I have high blood pressure, and both my mom and my maternal grandmother had type-2 diabetes. Actually, I think just about all of my aunts and uncles on my mom's side had diabetes. But my blood sugar is just fine so far. I do remember helping my mom measure out her insulin in her final years, so I'm not new to the difficulties and complications of diabetes.

Anyway, I'm here to learn.. what's helped and what's hurt people. I'm curious about supplements, exercise, side effects of meds, anything really. I figure with my family history, I need to watch myself as I help him.

[Aurora96]

Hi Jo!

I've only been on the forum a few days but I believe you'll find, as I have, that the people here are friendly and very knowledgeable.

Congratulations on taking this step for both your fiance and your own health!

[Dewey]

Hi Jo & welcome. There are many friendly folks here that will be able to help with any questions you might have.

I'm sorry to hear about the trouble your fiancé has been enduring. I try to shy away from Prednisone whenever possible, due to the elevated sugars it causes (in both folks with Diabetes & without!).

Here's hoping that with time, things will settle into his place & he'll find his "groove" when it comes to sugar levels & the like.

Again, welcome to the forums & glad you're here.

[mortis505]

Hi Jo and welcome to DF! Sorry yo hear about your fiance's diagnosis but things will get better. If I may suggest, tackle one thing at a time. Try and get his Diabetes under control before tackling the smoking. I know that It may seem odd that I suggest this but the stresses of quitting can cause havoc on bg levels and if he knows what proper levels feel like he will probably be better able to tell when things are "off".

If he is interested, have him join the forums as well.

[jacobsam622]

Originally Posted by JoK

I'm Jo, and I'm writing on behalf of my fiance. He was just informed that he has diabetes a week ago. He is 55, thin and active, so he was stunned that his blood sugars were high.

I've been suspicious, though, that something was up with him. A few years ago he was taking prednisone for an inflammation, and he developed painful heel cracks and tremendous cravings for carbs. Everything returned to normal after he got off of the prednisone, but he had the same reaction this winter when he was taking prednisone due to suspected tendonitis in his arm.

Alas, he did not have tendonitis, but he had problems with discs in his neck (degenerative disc disorder). He wound up having anterior cervical fusion surgery in March. The surgery went well, but his blood sugar was spiking up past 300 and he received a couple of doses of insulin while in the hospital. Everybody told him that it wasn't uncommon for blood sugar to spike after surgery.

He went to his PCP doctor after he got out of the hospital, and the doctor told him to wait about a month and then he would do the fasting glucose and a1c test. His fasting glucose turned out to be 135 and his a1c was 7.5%. Right now the doctor is telling him to just watch what he eats and monitor his blood sugar every morning. In a few weeks he will go back, repeat the a1c and see how things are going.

He is struggling physically and mentally right now. The DDD is a progressive disorder, he's still in quite a bit of pain from muscle spasms (still on pain meds though taking fewer of them), and now he has diabetes. He's been under a lot of pressure at work, and now he is missing 3 months (and missing two months of pay), so he's not a happy camper these days. Oh yes, they determined that he did have high blood pressure the week before the surgery, so he has been taking blood pressure meds for a few weeks now.

But... he hasn't been able to stop smoking, though he has cut down. (Argh!!!!)

We're both surprised that he is the one with the diabetes. I'm a bit overweight, I have high blood pressure, and both my mom and my maternal grandmother had type-2 diabetes. Actually, I think just about all of my aunts and uncles on my mom's side had diabetes. But my blood sugar is just fine so far. I do remember helping my mom measure out her insulin in her final years, so I'm not new to the difficulties and complications of diabetes.

Anyway, I'm here to learn.. what's helped and what's hurt people. I'm curious about supplements, exercise, side effects of meds, anything really. I figure with my family history, I need to watch myself as I help him.

Hi Jo welcome to the forums I have (degenerative disk and joint disorder but in my lower back. for the past six years I have been fighting a pinched nerve at s1, I have budging disks at L1, L2, L3, and arthritis of the facet joints at L2 and L3. Oh and I had back surgery back in 86. I think that all the meds that I have taken for my back triggered the diabetes. I had forgotten I was on steroids for the pinched nerve in my back several months before and prediabetes started. Makes me wonder if Steroids cause impaired glucose tolerance which leads to diabetes.

[morrisma]

Welcome to the club to you & SO.

Sorry about all the changes but with diabetes at least control is possible. Have S.O. test his sugar 2 hours after the first bite of a couple of meals as well as fasting. This 2 hour number seems to be gaining relevance and will convey just how quickly and effectively his pancreas is reacting to foods. Try it for a couple of different kinds of meals, for instance a breakfast of cereal and one of eggs (high & low carb) and see if the results vary.

Glad you (and he) found us.
Mike

[kgm0612]

Welcome to the forum, Jo. Nice people and tons of valuable information to be found here.

Karen

[notme]

Welcom to Diabetes Forums JoK. I am sorry to hear about your fiances diagnosis. It is wonderful you have found this site and are looking for ways to help him adjust.

I am sure over time, you will both figure out the types of food that will be most helpful to hime and help you lose those few pounds you would like to take off.

I am glad you found us and decided to join in.

[BrianSCohen]

Jo,

Welcome to the forum. You are to be commended for being so compassionate and concerned. It is very hard being diagnosed with diabetes. It causes you to really think about your mortality. Diabetes can strike anywhere, and certainly as you are now well aware, thinks like steroids can bring on full blown diabetes. But please keep a bright side to this change. Your fiance was diagnosed very early, and with a good focus on health, you both can look forward to a typical life together for many many years.

Your fiance (and perhaps you) will need to examine your diet and exercise as this the main defense against diabetes. Over time you will also need to manage a range of medications to help. In either case, while you have a condition, in today's world you have a real option to manage it and lead a normal life.

As to your fiance, please be understanding. I had real difficulty dealing with the news that I had diabetes. In some ways it is like greiving over your own death. He may go through stages like: denial and isolation, anger, bargaining, depression and finally acceptance. Your support through this is very helpful.

[JoK]

Thank you so much, everybody, for your compassionate and informative replies!

I'm sorry it's taken me so long to get back.. unfortunately, just a day or two after I last posted, my bf received another health whammy.... Shingles!!

We went to the doctor as soon as we saw the first little "pimple". He's on antivirals now, also trying Lyrica, and he is dealing with the pain of the darned things. It doesn't seem as if he has a large amount of pox, but shingles can take weeks to get over.

In the meantime, the concerns about diabetes have somewhat fallen by the wayside. I don't blame him... how many things can you deal with at one time?

Shingles is caused by a resurgence of the chicken pox virus, and it is often brought about by stress... well, he's got that in barrels. They are experimenting with a vaccine (may be the same one that they use for kids, can't remember). As it is such a miserable disorder, I think people should be urged to get this vaccine.... or at least discuss it with their doctor. Believe me, you don't want to go through this if you can avoid it!

As to your fiance, please be understanding. I had real difficulty dealing with the news that I had diabetes. In some ways it is like greiving over your own death. He may go through stages like: denial and isolation, anger, bargaining, depression and finally acceptance. Your support through this is very helpful.

Thanks for that reminder, Brian. He is strugging with the meaning of having so so many problems diagnosed at one time.

If I may suggest, tackle one thing at a time. Try and get his Diabetes under control before tackling the smoking. I know that It may seem odd that I suggest this but the stresses of quitting can cause havoc on bg levels and if he knows what proper levels feel like he will probably be better able to tell when things are "off".

I think that this is what he/we are doing. He has cut down and is no longer smoking in the house, so it's a good start. His stress levels are off the chart these days.

I have (degenerative disk and joint disorder but in my lower back. for the past six years I have been fighting a pinched nerve at s1, I have budging disks at L1, L2, L3, and arthritis of the facet joints at L2 and L3. Oh and I had back surgery back in 86. I think that all the meds that I have taken for my back triggered the diabetes. I had forgotten I was on steroids for the pinched nerve in my back several months before and prediabetes started. Makes me wonder if Steroids cause impaired glucose tolerance which leads to diabetes.

Jacob, that's tough. Are you anticipating any more surgery? I know that the steroids can mess with blood sugar, but I'm not sure if they can cause prediabetes/diabetes or just "unmask" it in individuals who are going to get it later anyway.

Have S.O. test his sugar 2 hours after the first bite of a couple of meals as well as fasting. This 2 hour number seems to be gaining relevance and will convey just how quickly and effectively his pancreas is reacting to foods. Try it for a couple of different kinds of meals, for instance a breakfast of cereal and one of eggs (high & low carb) and see if the results vary.

Thanks for this tip, Mike. He will be getting back to the testing in a few days, when we get over this later crisis. We both decided that he has too much going on to be concerned about testing his blood sugar right now, and his numbers have not been extreme... so we can wait a week or two.

And thank you all, aurora, dewey, Karen, and not me for the warm welcome!