How can I manage my mother's high HbA1c and body pain?

Question

Hello doctor,

My mother has an 18-year history of type 2 diabetes mainly due to stress. HbA1c is 11 % and fasting blood sugar level is 247 mg/dL with G.M.SR 2. Her ESR is 40. She is suffering from frequent body aches these days especially in shoulders. In the past, she has taken Glimestar. Please help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

A fasting blood sugar level of 247 mg/dL is quite high and HbA1c (glycated hemoglobin) of 11 indicates uncontrolled blood sugar. The medication that your mother is taking is not sufficient to control her blood sugar. She definitely needs a revision of her prescription. Uncontrolled blood sugar levels can lead to inflammatory conditions that show up as body pains. People with diabetes are also predisposed to developing frozen shoulder, which might explain her shoulder pain. She might need medication and physiotherapy for this. Her ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) is also high and it needs further evaluation. She also seems to be underweight which is characteristic of uncontrolled diabetes. Her medication needs to be changed, but only after a complete physical examination and evaluation of laboratory parameters by a diabetes specialist. She can probably be relieved of most of her issues once her blood sugar is controlled. I suggest you visit a diabetes specialist at the earliest to avoid any complications.

I hope this helps.

Kindly revert if there is any query.

Thank you.