Hi, new to the forum!!

[Iusedtofixbuses]

Hi everyone,

I caught Covid in January and spent a month in ICU with respiratory failure, I was six days in a coma and intubated for about two and a half weeks. I was given very high dose Dexamethasone steroids to basically keep my lungs alive which has given me steroid induced type 2 diabetes. I now take Levemir insulin twice a day. I'm struggling a bit to keep my levels in check, my weekly average is 8.4 mmol at the moment. Due to see my diabetes nurse for the first time in a couple of weeks, I've been told I will probably have to go on mixed insulin to help when I eat. It's been hard work trying to work out the correct diet and cope with long Covid!!

 

[Molly M]

@Iusedtofixbuses - hi - so sorry you have had such a hard time of it.

I was recently diagnosed so just new to this but I have been reducing my carb levels - I've been avoiding things like potatoes, rice, pasta, starchy veg, bread etc. Currently, I am testing my bg in the morning, an hour before and 2 hours after my meals to see how I react to different foods. I now have a few dishes that I know don't affect my bg levels by more than a couple of points.

I am sure some of the experts will be along to share their wise words - they are a huge help to all of us.

Good luck.

 

[ianf0ster]

Hi @Iusedtofixbuses and welcome to the forum

How often are you checking your BG? An 8.4 average may be pretty good if the highs and lows aren't too far away from it. Or it could be terrible if they are very high and very low !

Low carb meals have already been mentioned and they may help reduce both the high BG numbers (best to test 2hrs after first bite of a meal) and also reduce the background BG a little i.e. just before meals. However because your Diabetes is drug (Steroid) induced the general advice for a Type 2 doesn't all apply to you.

 

[Iusedtofixbuses]

Hi @Iusedtofixbuses and welcome to the forum

How often are you checking your BG? An 8.4 average may be pretty good if the highs and lows aren't too far away from it. Or it could be terrible if they are very high and very low !

Low carb meals have already been mentioned and they may help reduce both the high BG numbers (best to test 2hrs after first bite of a meal) and also reduce the background BG a little i.e. just before meals. However because your Diabetes is drug (Steroid) induced the general advice for a Type 2 doesn't all apply to you.

Hi,

I check my levels four times a day, morning, noon, afternoon and late evening. The lowest I usually go is around 5.5 and highest around 12, I'm also bipolar so I take various drugs for that which I have been told can raise my levels. I haven't had any training or any real advice since I was diagnosed type 2, I've talked to my GP maybe three times and a diabetic nurse probably the same so I've been trying to work everything out for myself but I'm finally seeing a nurse in a fortnight face to face for proper living with diabetes training. Thanks for your reply!!

 

[Cherrelle DUK]

Hi Iusedtofixbuses, welcome to the forum.

So sorry to hear about what you've been through recently. It's a lot to try and wrap your head around but hopefully things will start to make sense soon.

8.4 isn't a bad number as you want to be aiming for between 4-7 in a slow and steady way. You can find out more about testing via this link https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/managing-your-diabetes/testing.

Diet can be a tricky one but a lot of people benefit from reducing their carb intake and doing whatever exercise is comfortable for you.

We've got some info on ideas around diet that may also be helpful https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/enjoy-food/eating-with-diabetes/i-have-type-2-diabetes.