Help :)

[Kezza18]

Hi All,

I was diagnosed type 2 last year, on my last blood test my reading was 47, I was told by my diabetes nurse that I did not have to test daily, all was ok until last week when I ended up in hospital with a severe asthma attack, I had to have a CT scan so was not allowed to take my Metformin for 48 hours so this combined with a huge dose of steroids sent my sugar sky high, I have started testing but I don't have a clue what my readings should be or what they mean, last night before dinner it was 11 this evening it is 5.7, I'm so confused

 

[Drummer]

Hi All,

I was diagnosed type 2 last year, on my last blood test my reading was 47, I was told by my diabetes nurse that I did not have to test daily, all was ok until last week when I ended up in hospital with a severe asthma attack, I had to have a CT scan so was not allowed to take my Metformin for 48 hours so this combined with a huge dose of steroids sent my sugar sky high, I have started testing but I don't have a clue what my readings should be or what they mean, last night before dinner it was 11 this evening it is 5.7, I'm so confused

The lack of Metformin is unlikely to be a problem as it doesn't leave the body all at once, it will stick around for some time even if you don't take a couple of tablets. As your last HbA1c is not in the diabetes range your situation isn't dire - but your nurse did you no favour by telling you there was no need to test your blood glucose.
Steroids do elevate glucose levels, I am pretty sure others have found that out, so the reading of 11 before eating is probably entirely normal in the circumstances, and if you are careful with the amount of carbohydrate you have in your meals then you'll see more 5.6's I am sure.

 

[Leadinglights]

You have managed to keep your blood glucose fairly good prior to the latest incident, but things that can suddenly change things will be stress, your asthma attack, and the steroids which are well known for raising blood glucose.
Making sure you are careful with the amount of carb you have and doing more testing should hopefully bring things back to normal.
Incidentally my other half has had to have a course of steroids and his blood pressure had gone up so he has had his medication increased for the moment.

 

[Kezza18]

The lack of Metformin is unlikely to be a problem as it doesn't leave the body all at once, it will stick around for some time even if you don't take a couple of tablets. As your last HbA1c is not in the diabetes range your situation isn't dire - but your nurse did you no favour by telling you there was no need to test your blood glucose.
Steroids do elevate glucose levels, I am pretty sure others have found that out, so the reading of 11 before eating is probably entirely normal in the circumstances, and if you are careful with the amount of carbohydrate you have in your meals then you'll see more 5.6's I am sure.

Thank you

 

[Kezza18]

You have managed to keep your blood glucose fairly good prior to the latest incident, but things that can suddenly change things will be stress, your asthma attack, and the steroids which are well known for raising blood glucose.
Making sure you are careful with the amount of carb you have and doing more testing should hopefully bring things back to normal.
Incidentally my other half has had to have a course of steroids and his blood pressure had gone up so he has had his medication increased for the moment.

Thank you

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sorry to hear about your run-in with steroids @Kezza18

They can be so helpful for so many conditions, but they do have a reputation for messing with your BGs

Has the course of steroids finished now? Or are you still taking them?

In terms of glucose levels, people with diabetes are usually recommended to aim for 4-7 before meals, and no higher than 8.5 by 2hrs after the first bite of a meal. Two hours allows time for your phases of insulin to be released to help bring down your post-meal glucose levels so it may be higher earlier than that.

Initially if levels are high some forum folks have preferred to worry less about the numbers, and use a system of pairs of before and after checks around each meal to see the ‘meal rise’. Take a reading immediately before eating, and again 2hrs after the first bite. Then adjust the portions of carbohydrates (not just sugary things, but stuff like bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, cereals etc too) to aim for a rise of only 2-3mmol/L.

So if you had a meal that was 9.0mmol/L before, and 10.5mmol/L at 2hrs after, rather than feeling rotten about the ‘above target’ levels you’d concentrate on the rise of only 1.5mmol/L that shows that the body coped well with the meal.

If you can manage more meals with smallish rises your overall BG levels should gently coast downwards over time 🙂

 

[Kezza18]

Sorry to hear about your run-in with steroids @Kezza18

They can be so helpful for so many conditions, but they do have a reputation for messing with your BGs

Has the course of steroids finished now? Or are you still taking them?

In terms of glucose levels, people with diabetes are usually recommended to aim for 4-7 before meals, and no higher than 8.5 by 2hrs after the first bite of a meal. Two hours allows time for your phases of insulin to be released to help bring down your post-meal glucose levels so it may be higher earlier than that.

Initially if levels are high some forum folks have preferred to worry less about the numbers, and use a system of pairs of before and after checks around each meal to see the ‘meal rise’. Take a reading immediately before eating, and again 2hrs after the first bite. Then adjust the portions of carbohydrates (not just sugary things, but stuff like bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, cereals etc too) to aim for a rise of only 2-3mmol/L.

So if you had a meal that was 9.0mmol/L before, and 10.5mmol/L at 2hrs after, rather than feeling rotten about the ‘above target’ levels you’d concentrate on the rise of only 1.5mmol/L that shows that the body coped well with the meal.

If you can manage more meals with smallish rises your overall BG levels should gently coast downwards over time 🙂

Thank you so much for your reply this has helped no end, nothing was explained to me I was just told you are diabetic take these pills and come back in 6 months, I have made an appointment with the nurse as the Metformin are making me so ill. At least I now have something to work on, I think I may be asking a lot of questions

 

[Leadinglights]

Just going back to your first post I suspect it was your illness and steroids which would have pushed up your blood glucose but hopefully that was fairly temporary.
As metformin is making you unwell then there are alternatives if you actually need anything other than dietary management. Certainly if your HbA1C is not much above the diagnostic threshold then that may be possible.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Thank you so much for your reply this has helped no end, nothing was explained to me I was just told you are diabetic take these pills and come back in 6 months, I have made an appointment with the nurse as the Metformin are making me so ill. At least I now have something to work on, I think I may be asking a lot of questions

Many people find the stomach issues from Metformin settle after a while. If not, and if it is helping, a SR (slow release) version is generally gentler on the tum.

And Metformin usually provides a sort of general ‘background’ improvement. Menu adjustments and weight loss are very important too (perhaps even more so?).

Steroids can be tricky while the course continues. There is even a ‘steroid induced’ form of diabetes for some who are significantly affected.