Pre diabetes

[concerneddw]

NC to not link to other posts.

My DH had a blood test 18 months ago and was told he was pre diabetic and they signed him up to WW. He was about 14 stone. He is 6'2". Thing is, he has a bit of an obsessive personality at times. He embraced the 'low carbs' and the weight has come off, he is now down to under 12 stone and to be frank he doesn't look good. He isn't young (60) and is now skin and bones, but he's chuffed to bits because his 32" waist trousers are loose on him. Friends have said he looks gaunt, and he does. I've said (gently) he needs to ease off a bit but he won't. I'm worried that if he becomes ill he won't have any body weight to fall back on (I'm worried due to my DM losing half her body weight when in hospital recently) Any suggestions how I can get him to ease off without being a nagging wife?

Pre-diabetes isn't just about weight. I think you both need to educate yourselves a little more and perhaps do so together.
Diabetes UK has great info on their website.
He can also have a HBA1C check annually if he's coded as Pre diabetic so might be worth getting that done too so he can see if his levels have changed?

Thanks for responding but you have COMPLETELY missed the point. I know all about diabetes thank you, I am diabetic as is my sister, my (late) mother and many friends. This is how to gently suggest he stops trying to lose more weight.

Whats his bmi? If it's under 18.5 I'd point out to him that it is not healthy, if it's over then I'd leave him be.

Is he actually close to becoming underweight though? We’re not very good at recognising what is healthy or not weight-wise and at 6’2” an ‘ideal’ weight (BMI 18.5-25) ranges from about 10st 4lb to 13st 13lb.

Is he doing any weightbearing exercise or strength and aerobic training? Both would benefit him greatly.

Otherwise, he sounds like he's a healthy weight and it's just the difference in him you aren't liking. The exercise would help him increase his muscle mass and fitness and would, as a side effect, probably make him look more aesthetically pleasing than if he is just thinner.

I apologise if you think I missed the point.

At 6ft 2 and 12 stone, this would put his BMI within the normal weight range for this height. Underweight would be somewhere nearer to 10 stone 4.

May I ask about your own situation? If you are diabetic are you struggling with your own weight?

In terms of your husband, have you actually had a frank conversation about target weights etc? WW don't have an interest in getting people to an unhealthy weight.

I think if he’s at a healthy weight you don’t really have any business encouraging him to “ease off”. It’s his body and his choice.

My fil lost a lot of weight and he did look a bit gaunt. Several people discretely asked us if he was ill, a couple of people asked him directly! Now his face seems to have settled and he looks great. He’s fitter than he’s been for years and doesn’t have to worry about his health.

I don’t think your dh is drastically underweight, he has only lost 2 stone not half his body weight. I think perhaps it’s the shock of him looking so different and I wonder if you just don’t like his new look. At the end of the day though, his health comes first and he is perfectly justified in wanting to look after himself.