What a relief: appointment with the GP this morning and DH's blood sugar is down from 11 (three weeks ago) to 8 (it's supposed to be 3-7, so that's still too high but at least there wasn't any more talk about getting him on insulin. Also had an appointment with a dietician which I arranged because DH is not convinced that it's important to stick to his diet, and I thought it might help if he heard it from someone else. Now I read somewhere here that insulin may check the onset and/or progress of AD? Maybe we should go for it then --but I don't think he'd do well injecting. Any LO's on insulin out there? Sticking to the diet is really a pain because - he forgets what he's eaten - he forgets why he's supposed to be careful - he has a terrible sweet tooth and so do I - going out to eat (by bike) is his only favorite activity and then he always wants french fries or something else fat or sweet - eating is one of his few pleasures and if I tell him no he thinks I begrudge him the food.
Meanwhile I've also lost a couple pounds the last few weeks because I've found that what works best is simply not buying the "bad" stuff.
I have quite a few articles listed on the Alzheimer's/dementia and diabetic connection. I am going to list a few, but if you go to my home page - www.thealzheimerspouse.com, and click on "Articles of Interest" on the left hand side, you will find many such articles under the "General Article of Interest" section.
High Fat Diet May Impair Cognition in Diabetics - http://forecast.diabetes.org/news/high-fat-diet-may-impair-cognition-diabetics
More Evidence Links Diabetes, Alzheimer's -http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29724675/
Insulin Protects Brain from Alzheimer's - US Study -http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKN0253100820090202
Dementia Looks Different in Diabetic Brain -http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSTRE50B6NF20090112?sp=true
My husband is diabetic, and I agree about the nutritionist. We went through this two years ago - a two hour class and an individual session. He remembered nothing, and was totally non-compliant when I simplified the diet on a list for him of what he should check off as I gave it to him. Of course, he was non-compliant BEFORE he had Alzheimer's Disease. At this point, I don't bother arguing with him. He is functional and aware that he shouldn't eat a whole pizza or a big plate of pasta, and when he does, he doesn't do it again for at least a couple of weeks.
He is on the pill, Januvia. He doesn't need insulin. So far.
Thank you, Joan. I have read the articles you linked and will check out the rest of them on the site soon. Siem was compliant for about 24 hours after talking to the dietician. Today he was terrible again, just smiles and pours himself another glass of wine. There's just no way I can keep him on the diet. He has two different kinds of medicine for the diabetes, one that stimulates insulin production (GLIMIPIRIDE) and one that promotes the assimilation in body cells (metformine). He is at about the maximum dosage for both. Has no symptoms however and never gets hypos or anything like that.
For another perspective look at: http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/ I follow that approach and keep my A1c under 6 most of the time, by diet alone. Insulin works well for people willing to give themselves a shot according to what they eat but the once a day shot tends to result in highs and possibly dangerous lows. Another perspective is that it takes 10 years of high blood sugars for diabetic complications to develop, so unless he already has vision problems or neuropathy is it worth worrying about?
Thank you, Pamsc, that is an interesting site and I will read more. I really like your last comment too; it that is true then I don't think it's worth the stress of trying to keep him on his diet. I'm going to try to find out more about that. Problem is, as so often, that the assistant GP who handles the diabetic check-ups at my GP's office probably knows very little about Alzheimer's and the difficulties I have to contend with. The dietician certainly had no clue.
Just in case anyone else is contending with this, I'd like to report that I think I have found a compromise that works: I can't keep DH on a strict diet but can drastically limit the bad stuff he eats by simply not buying it. (In my heart I probably knew all along that this was the path I needed to take). If we are expecting company I go shopping right before they come. Unexpected guests have to take what they get. Also have good hiding places that DH has not yet found. In the refrigerator I hide any forbidden goodies behind a wall of egg cartons and cooking stuff that he never touches. The apples and carrots and no-sugar low-fat yogurt are right up front where he can always find something to eat. In the grocery store it takes some conniving to keep him away from certain aisles and sections. I have been known to replace things to the shelves when he's not looking, but can't always get away with that. Wine is still a big problem. I take the bottle down cellar where he doesn't look. But then he thinks we don't have any and wants to buy more. So we're building up a nice little collection down there.