Hi

[Cjoy]

I was diagnosed just over a week ago. Hba1c was 127. I have to say i'm finding so much conflicting advice. Also, I am on steroids, and I haven't seen anything on steroid induced diabetes.

 

[Drummer]

I've seen it mentioned, but it is not all that common.
What advice have you had that is confusing?

 

[Cjoy]

How often to test blood glucose, also really confused about what I should/shouldn’t be eating. My level is so high, not sure whether I should be being really strict or if this will be too much of a shock to the system.

 

[Vonny]

Hi @Cjoy and welcome to the forum. I'm not sure about the question of steroids, but generally speaking here on the forum we follow either low carb or very low carb diets. For example I rarely eat bread, pasta, rice or spuds since being diagnosed in April. I'm also on metformin and my hba1c has reduced drastically as a result.

Re testing, it's advisable to test in the morning when you first get up, then just before and 2 hours after your meals. You should be expecting no more than 3 higher in the post meal test. However it is very early days and it does take time for medications and diet to work so don't be disheartened by your early testing.

I also keep a food diary with a note of how many carbs eaten, test results etc so I can spot patterns and refer back to notes on meals so I don't have to test as much now.

I'm sure others will be along soon to give you more support and help. Best wishes 🙂

 

[ianf0ster]

Is it a good idea to test your BG yourself? - Yes, if you are doing something about controlling it (if you don't test then you can't adjust when required). But if you are just going to get stressed about high BG without taking steps to deal with it, then there is no point! This latter is what the NHS assumes you will do.

If you are prepared to use a change in what you eat (not a calorie restricted diet) in order to control your BG, then it is best to test (initially) before and the 2 hrs after 1st bite of every meal until you understand your own body's carbohydrate tolerance. This varies considerably from person to person, food to food and mix of fats and carbs in a meal! Testing is the only way to find what works for you, other than relying on blind luck!

Approx 50% of motivated T2's who try Low Carb way of eating (not diet) are in remission and off all Diabetes meds within 30months (some in as little as 3 or 4 months).These stats from the Southport practice of UK GP Dr David Unwin and have ben replicated elsewhere.

Cheapest (overall) BG meters (test strips is the main expense not the original cost of the meter): SD Gluco Navii or Spirit TEE2+ both of which have test strips at around £8 per box of 50.

 

[Flower]

Hello and welcome @Cjoy

This information is from the Diabetes UK site on steroid induced diabetes

Steroid-induced diabetes

Steroids can cause high blood glucose (sugar) levels. That’s why some people who take steroids go on to develop diabetes. This is known as steroid-induced diabetes, and is more common in people who are at higher risk of type 2 diabetes. What are steroids? Steroids are also known as...

www.diabetes.org.uk

I hope it helps you. It is kinder to the body, blood vessels etc to reduce blood sugar more gently rather than a rapid drop. What medication have you been started on? Here's some information on T2 diabetes drugs

Diabetes tablets and medication

There are several types of diabetes medications available, which all work in different ways. Not all diabetes treatments are suitable for everyone, so don’t be disheartened if you find yourself needing to change or stop certain medications. Your GP or healthcare team can help you find a...

www.diabetes.org.uk

and here are the target blood glucose levels for T2

If you have Type 2 diabetes​

• before meals: 4 to 7mmol/l
• two hours after meals: less than 8.5mmol/l

 

[Paulbreen]

Hi Cjoy and welcome, I Had recent run in with steroids myself, I got prescribed cortisone tablets for an ear issue and I had to stop them after 2 days, my Blood Glucose readings were out of control, no matter how much insulin i used made no difference so it’s likely they are an issue for diabetics

 

[Cjoy]

Thank you for all the replies. I was prescribed metformin, but I have reacted very badly to it. Thanks for the great advice on testing. That has been hugely helpful. also the dietary advice . The info I got from the surgery was very much change white to whole meal but I can see that cutting the carbs is what works. I have had to have a major overhaul of my diet which has not been easy, and it’s only been about a week I’ve still to have a BG reading less than 10 but I expect to get a different med added.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Thank you for all the replies. I was prescribed metformin, but I have reacted very badly to it. Thanks for the great advice on testing. That has been hugely helpful. also the dietary advice . The info I got from the surgery was very much change white to whole meal but I can see that cutting the carbs is what works. I have had to have a major overhaul of my diet which has not been easy, and it’s only been about a week I’ve still to have a BG reading less than 10 but I expect to get a different med added.

Welcome to the forum @Cjoy, and great to hear what a good start you have made after some confusing initial information.

One of the challenging things about diabetes management is that there is no ‘one size fits all’ diet or list of types and amounts of foods that will be right for everyone - which is possibly why some of the advice looks confusing and inconsistent... and why on the forum we tend to recommend a process of experimentation and tweaking, starting with what you eat now, and then reviewing, adjusting and amending towards whatever BG levels you are aiming for.

Good luck, and let us know how you get on. Hopefully your BGs will reduce gradually over time, which is better for your fine blood vessels.