My dad has T2D for 20 years. Why he has uncontrolled sugar?

Question

Hi doctor,

My father has been suffering from type 2 diabetes for the last 20 years. His blood sugar levels are never fully under control. This could be due to a lack of physical activity and a sedentary lifestyle.

Recently, his HbA1C value was 9, and he is also taking insulin; he takes 16 units of insulin glargine along with Metformin and Volix tablets. How can I help him bring his sugar levels to normal?

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com

Thank you for your query.

Having a close family member with diabetes and watching them manage it is stressful enough, but in your case, it is your father, and his condition is not well-controlled, which I believe could be even more stressful for you. I appreciate and understand your worry about your father. But, I would point out that you need to take care of and look after yourself as well.

Coming back to your query regarding your father's diabetes, I would like to take a look at a few things, like:

Diet: An ideal diet would be low in simple carbohydrates but high in protein and unsaturated fats. Studies have shown that when switched to a low-calorie diet, many diabetic patients have been able to reduce their medicines, and in some cases, diabetes could be said to be 'in remission'.
Medication: You have mentioned insulin glargine 16U daily, but what are the formulations and doses of his other two medications?
Sleep: How many hours of restful sleep does he get in a day? Is it continuous sleep or broken? Does he feel well-rested when he gets up in the morning?
Water intake: A daily water intake is recommended for healthy kidneys.
Physical activity: He does not need the gym. Just walking around the house for at least 30 minutes per day is enough. If he prefers, he could go for a walk after dinner. In addition to facilitating good digestion, it will help with the quality of his sleep as well.

Additionally, could you send me any of his blood test reports from the past three to four years?

I hope this helps.

Thank you.