Helping a Spouse
Helping a Spouse
| Author: Judy Kohn, RN, BSN, CDE |
| Last Updated: Monday, January 23, 2006 |
Q: "My husband has Type 2 diabetes. He doesn't take care of himself. I made him check his blood sugar and the monitor said "HI". After referring to the manual, I discovered that the monitor doesn't read higher than 500. Can you tell me how high blood sugar levels are when they become severe or dangerous? What happens or what should I do when they get this high? What is the average target zone? I have so many questions about diabetes; can you help with these for starters?"
A :I can understand your concern. This is a common and frustrating problem for many people with diabetes—and their spouses.
A blood glucose of 500 (mg/dL) is considered extremely high and generally a reason to contact a doctor. A detailed explanation is provided in the related question below entitled: "When to call the doctor."
First: It is so important that you start by discussing your concerns with your husband to see if he's willing to let you attend a session with his doctor and ideally also with his diabetes educator. Many diabetes education centers offer classes as well as support groups for people with diabetes and their families. In addition, many people benefit from psychological counseling to help them cope with the everyday challenges of managing diabetes.
If your husband refuses to include you on visits to the diabetes team, you may consider contacting his doctor to discuss this—but realize that his doctor will be limited in what he or she can do if your husband does not provide consent.
There are many resources available online to help you understand some of these issues. Please start by reading the links I have provided.
I know this can be overwhelming, but learning about diabetes will help provide you with a deeper understanding of what your husband may be experiencing. I do hope your husband will open up a little to let you help him. Best wishes for sorting this out.
Related Questions
When to call the doctor
Q:
"I always read about target goals, but they don’t say when to call the
doctor. What is really too low or too high? Although I am often under 130
before meals, sometimes I’m not; yet I can’t imagine tha..."
Causes of Complications
Q:
"If you follow a strict meal plan, how likely is it that you will develop
diabetic complications? If you don't follow a meal plan closely, how likely is
it that you will you develop diabetic complicati..."
Glucose Goals
Q:
"What is a good blood glucose reading?"
Related Links
American Diabetes Association (ADA)
http://www.diabetes.org
Joslin Diabetes Center For Further Reading
http://www.joslin.org
Diabetes Self-Management
http://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com
Important Notice: The responses provided by the team of Diabetes Educators are based on their personal experiences and expertise as practicing diabetes healthcare professionals, and are not to be considered diabetes management advice from Abbott Laboratories. Remember that information provided by the team of Diabetes Educators is for general background purposes and is not intended as a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment by a trained professional. You should always consult your physician about any healthcare questions you may have, especially before trying a new medication, diet, fitness program, or approach to healthcare issues.
All tradenames and trademarks not owned by Abbott Laboratories are the property of their respective owners. For details on tradenames and trademarks and their respective owners, visit the non-Abbott trademarks listing.
