My diabetic father is refusing food for four days now. How to help him get his appetite back?

Question

Hi doctor,

My father is 62 years old. He has diabetes type 2. Recently, he started feeling unwell. He has stopped eating. He does not want to eat or drink anything. He refuses to eat food for four days now. His blood sugar remains around 250 to 280 mg/dL even though he is not eating. We took him to the hospital and the doctor told me it as neuropathy as he is experiencing body aches too. My father is extremely fatigued and he feels to lay down and sleep always. What is happening in him? What to do to bring his appetite back to normal?

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Your father's blood sugar is too high. You have not mentioned the medication taken by him. Taking Metformin alone will not work for these high levels. He requires insulin too for controlling the levels and then he can take pills depending upon the condition. Do not ignore the advice as he may reach diabetic ketoacidosis. He needs to do testing for blood sugar levels, blood pH, serum and urine ketone levels. I suggest you kindly take him immediately to the doctor for having a thorough physical examination and give him a complete detailed history. In the meantime, just follow the preventive measures.