[RITADAR]

Please help. My husband has been on the pump for prox 3 years. Last A1c
was 7.2 during winter months. Before that 6.5. Right now I am struggling
with his carbs. Do you guys try to stay at a certain number of carbs per day?
Before bed last night he had a bag of Orvil's pour over microwave popcorn, that was around 8:30. He got up at 3:00 a.m. and I asked him to check
his sugar, it was around 240. He adjusted and went back to bed. It just
seems to me like he is eating all the time. He doesn't seem to feel bad, but
not great either. When we were at the endo's last month he had a student
working with him and she asked how often he checked his sugar. He told
her approx 10 times per day. She said "that often", so now he doesn't think
he needs to check that often. We have been married 28 years and have
2 sons age 22 and 15. I just want to help him take care of himself. He has
been awful moody lately and I know that comes with the highs and lows. His
2 week average is 166, which I think is too high. Just wondering if he is
having to many carbs per day? Great forum. Thanks in advance for any
help.

[liz32]

I'm T2 and I try and stay somewhere between 150-200g of carb in a day. I'm not sure if that's high compared to others but that's what's working for me..for now.

[duck]

I come from the school of thought you can never check too often--As a matter of fact, I am less interested in an implantable pump than I am in a blood sugar monitor that can tell me what my blood sugars were a minute ago, two minutes ago, right now, yesterday, etc., without having to bleed all the time.

Now. 166 is too high an average in my book. I try to aim for an average of less than 140 at all times, and test my A1c's monthly to verify I am maintaining a good average (my last A1c last week as 6.3, a bit higher than I would have hoped, but alas, we move on).

Do not let a "student" make you think it is okay to cut back on testing; Did the student have a disease that very much wants to take their eyesite from them, or their kidney function, or increase their chances of stroke and heart disease? If so, let them talk--If not, tell them to take a hike. "That often?" Ha ha, I think I would have said "Yeah, I don't want to die. What do you think?"

I'm sorry, I'm really not this harsh, but recently it seems like I am dealing with people who have zero idea what this disease is about, and it annoys me when the people who should know (medical pros) are just as ignorant.

Rita, is your husband a member here? Have him join up. There's a lot of positive peer pressure here...I used to think I did a good job managing my diabetes, but since I became very active here, I've done SOOOO much better and learned so much more.

[duck]

Oh yeah, moodiness is a sign of fluctuating sugars......hi/low hi/low low/hi hi/low...My wife made me get on the pump when she found out it would potentially make me less moody...We don't even realize we are being moody, most of the time.

[dixiepixie64]

Ritadar,
I think it is wonderful that you are so supportive and caring. I was thinking when I read your post that perhaps your hubby is having some diabetes burnout. That may attribute to some of his moodiness, i.e, he KNOWS he should be taking better care of himself but he is fed up with dealing with it so he is conflicted and it is causing him stress. I've been there. Perhaps you should have a talk with him and let him know you are worried but be sure he knows you're not being judgmental, just that you and your children care about him and want him around for a long time. Or you could do what Duck said and introduce him to us. I agree that the peer pressure does play a factor.

[Cinnabon]

DUCK IS RIGHT ON THE MONEY! tHE MOOD SWING ARE HAND IN HAND WITH BLOOD SUGAR LEVEL SWINGS. This forum would be absolutely great for him. About the carbs, I think it is an individual thing. How his body absorbs, how fast, what kind of carbs, does he work with a nutritionist? Just as an example, my body absorbs wheat and multi grain Much SLOWER, which is better.

[ricardo]

Originally Posted by RITADAR

Please help. My husband has been on the pump for prox 3 years. Last A1c
was 7.2 during winter months. Before that 6.5. Right now I am struggling
with his carbs. Do you guys try to stay at a certain number of carbs per day?
Before bed last night he had a bag of Orvil's pour over microwave popcorn, that was around 8:30. He got up at 3:00 a.m. and I asked him to check
his sugar, it was around 240. He adjusted and went back to bed. It just
seems to me like he is eating all the time. He doesn't seem to feel bad, but
not great either. When we were at the endo's last month he had a student
working with him and she asked how often he checked his sugar. He told
her approx 10 times per day. She said "that often", so now he doesn't think
he needs to check that often. We have been married 28 years and have
2 sons age 22 and 15. I just want to help him take care of himself. He has
been awful moody lately and I know that comes with the highs and lows. His
2 week average is 166, which I think is too high. Just wondering if he is
having to many carbs per day? Great forum. Thanks in advance for any
help.

10 times a day is not too many times to check when pumping. The student with the endo should be ignored.

[rzrbks]

10 times a day is not too many times to check when pumping. The student with the endo should be ignored.

Shoot the Student

My 14 day average is 100/5.5

My 30 day average is 101/5.6

Worst A1c is 5.7


I never test LESS than 6 times a day.

Yep, mood swings go hand-in-hand with fluctuating B/G levels

[Eri's mom]

Most definitely agree w/ the mood swings and fluctuating sugars...

Eri is on a 240g/day carb diet(too much for her actually, but in the process of changing that), and is testing up to 6 times+ per day.

[Zokes]

IMHO:

Ignore the student.

Hubby "should" be able to eat what he wants (within reason), but must bolus to cover. Maybe he needs adjustment to his carb - insulin ratio. Maybe he is in "burnout" phase. We all go through that (my last one lasted 5 years, ).
Give him the support he needs. I know my wife is real help with her attitude.
I agree with Duck in that I wish I could have instantaneous bg readings 24/7. Testing is hugely important (especially now that I'm pumping).

Good luck

[middnite03]

Actually just comming out of pump training, and diet training, and all these other too informitave trainings.... I was told to keep carbs below 60 grams per meal, thats breakfast, lunch and supper. all snacks should be card free (veggies and low carb choices) so added up thats about 180 grams a day, and was told to use this as a rule, and then change it to suit my needs. but according to the diabetic educator she starts all new diabetics on 60 carbs a meal and then works from there. as for the testing, my regiment right now it every 2 hours (ouch) for the first 2 to 3 weeks, then I can slow down, but still have to test at least 6 to 8 times a day, especially on the pump..... to be honest if it's a choice between sore fingers or say being blind or losing body parts... i'll take the sore fingers.....

[duck]

Originally Posted by middnite03

Actually just comming out of pump training, and diet training, and all these other too informitave trainings.... I was told to keep carbs below 60 grams per meal, thats breakfast, lunch and supper. all snacks should be card free (veggies and low carb choices) so added up thats about 180 grams a day, and was told to use this as a rule, and then change it to suit my needs. but according to the diabetic educator she starts all new diabetics on 60 carbs a meal and then works from there. as for the testing, my regiment right now it every 2 hours (ouch) for the first 2 to 3 weeks, then I can slow down, but still have to test at least 6 to 8 times a day, especially on the pump..... to be honest if it's a choice between sore fingers or say being blind or losing body parts... i'll take the sore fingers.....

Off-Topic...Dude, get a meter that allows you to use your forearm for tests...TRUST me you'll be more compliant and much happier.

...back to topic.

[middnite03]

I do have one, the b&g that came with the pump, and I also have the precision xtra, that can draw from alt sites, but was told that should only use fingers, being that alt site could possible give a false reading when a low happenes....

what does everyone think?? would love to use the alt sites more often.....

[HeatherP]

You can use alternate sites UNLESS you suspect a low. For lows, the fingers are the most accurate.