Morning, I'm still really struggling to get my sugars down. 15.9 this morning before eating or drinking. The last thing I ate last night around 7pm was Greek.yoghurt with raspberries. My diet has been really good I've hardly touched carbs this past week except a burger bun . I'm taking full dose metformin and glicilizide 40mg twice daily. I'm sure they should be lower. I have steroid induced diabetes.
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High blood sugars first thing am
- Thread starter Titch 91
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gll
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Remember the gliclazide only works for a set time. Dug this up on google to give you an idea of the peak.
https://www.bucksformulary.nhs.uk/d...scribing and Titrating Gliclazide Therapy.pdf
and it still is dependant on how much you are taking, how insulin resistant you are and at what level your pancreas can pump out insulin.
The other things to take into account is dawn phenomenon and whats know as foot on the floor. Both are throwbacks to caveman days where the body dumps glucose to give us energy to go off hunting but hasn't caught on we don't need much to walk to the kitchen these days.
I test in bed to avoid foot on the floor readings (doesn't stop it happening but at least I can eliminate that from my data).
When are they doing the gliclazide review to see if its working? (I've read your other threads so have an idea of what's been going on with you).
https://www.bucksformulary.nhs.uk/d...scribing and Titrating Gliclazide Therapy.pdf
and it still is dependant on how much you are taking, how insulin resistant you are and at what level your pancreas can pump out insulin.
The other things to take into account is dawn phenomenon and whats know as foot on the floor. Both are throwbacks to caveman days where the body dumps glucose to give us energy to go off hunting but hasn't caught on we don't need much to walk to the kitchen these days.
I test in bed to avoid foot on the floor readings (doesn't stop it happening but at least I can eliminate that from my data).
When are they doing the gliclazide review to see if its working? (I've read your other threads so have an idea of what's been going on with you).
Leadinglights
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Is this a consistent thing or just a one off today. could you have had something on your fingers?
Many do find higher morning readings as their liver releases glucose to give them energy for the day and to keep organs functioning. That is more likely to happen if you potter about before taking your reading. It is referred to Dawn phenomenon.
It could be your liver being super helpful as you didn't have much in the way of carbs the previous evening.
It's an ongoing thing, I've been really struggling to get them down it's so frustrating. I tested in bed this am before getting up. I'm not really sure what is going on with my body! It's frustrating though cos I feel pretty awful with it.
Leadinglights
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As you feel unwell, I would contact your nurse, your appointment is quite a way off to leave it until then.
Feel like such a pain to my GP surgery. Always on the phone to them about one thing or another! I Will fill out the online form and request a call back. Thanks
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The
The lowest is this morning at 15.9.. highest was 24.2 over the weekend. I'm on 15mg of steroids so I've reduced then alot!
Leadinglights
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With those high levels do you have a means of testing for ketones, urine dip stick which you can get from the pharmacy if you haven't.
I think it is urgent you speak to your nurse/doctor with such high levels. That is what they are there for.
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Yikes! Those are probably making you feel pretty grim.
In your shoes I’d be asking for insulin - even if only as a temporary measure. It feels like your pancreas is really struggling to keep on top of things, and you are trying your hardest with reducing carb intake.
Phone your nurse sooner rather than later, I would. Those kind of levels can’t be doing you or your sense of wellbeing any good at all
I ordered some from amazon, they were meant to come Friday but they were delayed so coming today. So will be able to check for that. Thanks
I can't stop drinking and peeing. I feel so lethargic too. It's not nice and keep having tummy pains too. Don't know if it's related. I'm gona feel the online form for the nurse so she can get back to me.Yikes! Those are probably making you feel pretty grim.
In your shoes I’d be asking for insulin - even if only as a temporary measure. It feels like your pancreas is really struggling to keep on top of things, and you are trying your hardest with reducing carb intake.
Phone your nurse sooner rather than later, I would. Those kind of levels can’t be doing you or your sense of wellbeing any good at all
Would they usually use insulin to treat levels this high? I'm new to this so don't know a huge amount if I'm honest.t
Leadinglights
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Can I suggest you look at this link for the symptoms of DKA which can be serious and if you feel you have those then get yourself to A & E or call 111 pronto.
What is DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis)?
Diabetic ketoacidosis, also known as DKA, is when there is severe lack of insulin in the body. This means the body can’t use sugar for energy, and starts to use fat instead.
gll
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I would call GPs now and ask if they have means to test for ketones in the surgery today. Tell them you have had high bg and are getting tummy pains and are worried about it being a symptom of DKA and need it checked.
Even if ketones are clear, it might light some fires to get some action sooner.
Forget filling out forms, get on the phone to them.
Even if ketones are clear, it might light some fires to get some action sooner.
Forget filling out forms, get on the phone to them.
I did the online form, the nurse rang back within an hour! She said to double the glicizide and if no difference by the end of the week they will look at other options. Fingers crossed this helps! Having ham salad and sugar free jelly for lunch so hoping that won't bring my sugars up!
rebrascora
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Pleased you got a prompt call back and a plan of action for the week to come and hope those Ketone test strips turn up today. Please let us know how you get on and if you start to feel really ill in the meantime, get yourself to A&E.
gll
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^^^^ this this this
Just want to touch on the mental side of things.
I have been there where no matter what you seem to do it just isn't enough. I tried the no eating and the no/minimal carb eating and really hated myself at some points for not "being better" at it all and blaming myself for that 10g of carbs I had for my 20+ something bg numbers (yeah looking back in like nope, it wasn't the tiny carbs I had to blame for it all).
This ISN'T your fault and as much as you try to lower things "naturally", your body just needs the extra help right now. If gliclazide at higher doses works, fab, if it needs additional medications, then you use them.
Ideally longer term you want to try and find what works that allows a more normal way of life but for now, the goal is to get out of the red and feel a bit better.
Go with the flow on the meds they offer but be proactive in fighting to be heard if things aren't working and no one is doing anything. Keep yourself safe and be sure to keep tabs on ketones.
We are always here to listen and answer what we can.
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Hello @Titch 91, glad the nurse is responsive.
In an earlier posting I suggested that because your diabetes has been damaged by steroids, you should, strictly, be categorised as T3c. I have that just a tiny bit wrong, in that its one of the T3 sub-groups, probably T3d rather than c - I can't remember; but this is splitting hairs: you aren't an autoimmune T1 nor an insulin resistant T2. The point is that, as a T3something, you should be under a Hospital based Specialist Team for diabetes (which the T3 sub-groups attract) and that team is so much better placed to reconcile the endocrinology (ie diabetes treatment) with steroid use and both existing damage as well as prospective damage and side effects from steroids.
Hospital teams are accustomed to identifying when insulin is needed and prescribing accordingly - whether it is as a short term fix or longer term solution and should be much better placed to get other tests and/or scans organised, if needed.
If you are still in trouble after doubling the Glic ask (pester/ cajole/ insist) for an Urgent referral to a Hospital Team. With the best will in the world, your GP Surgery and their personnel are highly unlikely to have the skillset to sort out your present challenges.
A little more about T3 sub groups: in the USA a few years ago there was a proposal to recognise other types of D, apart from T1 & 2, specifically those arising from other damage to the pancreas. An international symposium proposed sub-categories from a-k, covering a multitude of reasons why pancreatic damage occurs; this array of T3 flavours didn't get agreement by the World Health Authority (WHO). But the symposium and discussions brought about a growing awareness that there were very many reasons why people got diabetes and damaged pancreatic functions often needed quite different treatments, often with that treatment needing to be co-ordinated with the cause of the damage. As well as Pancreatic cancer and partial or total pancreatectomies (usually attributed to T3c), there was pancreatitis, alcohol abuse, steroids (from prescription or abuse in pursuit of abnormal fitness), accidents and many more. I had a link to that list, but can't find it! Anyway awareness by many medical professionals of any of the T3 sub-groups is not terrific in UK today, but there does seem to be a growing awareness of T3c at least - judging by the few who appear on this and other forums.
Hoping things improve very soon for you.
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