High levels on pain meds

[Inka]

I’m not familiar with that meter at all, but it seems it can display LO for ketones:

https://www.glucomen.co.uk/wp-content/themes/glucomen/assets/pdfs/LX PLUS Manual.pdf

Do you have any Ketostix (urine sticks) to check? It could be you don’t have ketones if the new insulin is bringing your blood sugar down, but, if in any doubt or feeling rough, do get medical help.

I’m glad you’re phoning the Samaritans. There’s nothing to be ashamed of. Just having a chat and getting things off your chest can help a lot.

Wishing you all the best. Please keep posting and let us know how you are. There are lots of people here who’ve struggled and there are many, many kind hearts and listening ears for you when things get hard.

 

[Docb]

I looked up your meter and LO means that the ketone level is too low for it to get a sensible measurement. That is something not to worry about. If it says HI it means that the ketone level is very high and that you need to get help very quickly because it needs to be reduced and there is nothing you can do to achieve that.

Take care my friend. We are always here for you.

 

[Deleted member 27171]

I’m glad you’ve found the forum helpful and do keep posting whenever you need to - there’s almost always someone around.

 

[SB2015]

Welcome to the forum @Mr Lee
I am glad that you found us.

I am sorry to hear that things are so difficult for you at present, but glad that you have already received good advice. I hope that you have been able to reach out to someone.

Keep in touch.

 

[Mr Lee]

Thank you Squirrel for looking that up .
well fingers crossed things may be looking up as far as pain is concerned...

Doctors advice.... Take more head drugs, we will worry about your levels later.
Non doctors advice....(you know who you are)... cut down on the drugs and concentrate on sugar levels.

It appears on small print on a few of my drugs.... may play havoc with sugar levels. So i took the advice from here and lowered my sugar levels from an average of 25, to a now average of 15.. amazingly i now feel alot better, the pain has dropped drastically and i managed 7 hours sleep , (first time in over 3 months)

I am not going to comment on my docs advice, but just say thank you to Diabetes.org.uk team 🙂

Going for a walk...... Lee

 

[Toucan]

Hello @Mr Lee
Really good to hear that you are feeling a lot better.
I hope you will keep posting and let us know how it is all going for you.

Enjoy your walk, and I'm sure that will help you to continue feeling better🙂

 

[Mr Lee]

Hi all.. just an update.
good news... i have a blood reading this morning of just 13, Which is the lowest i have had for 2 months. Although still in pain, it is also the lowest it has been for a while. My general well being is also improving, and i have actually lowered the amount of brain drugs by half.
All of the above was because of this site.

Health watch for my area said i should complain to my GP. All i really wanted was to get me fixed, but did as they advised and have now had a response of "we are investigating your case and will be in-touch". Which seems to have voided my due calls from my Doctor and Diabetic nurse.

I guess some of my questions being - why am i on slow release with such high levels? and why has my diabetes taken a back seat over fixing my leg pain, when my diabetes high levels are probably the cause. I understand that i may have slowed their response for my next appointment.
In my doctors defense, Injecting myself with all my insulin in a moment of depression a few years ago, must have made them reluctant to give me any at all, This also made me to embarrassed to question my high levels.

Hopefully They get me an appointment soon, and in the meantime, Just knowing there are others out there struggling too and yet still have time to care, that keeps me stronger this time, .. Lee

 

[Sol51]

Thank you all for your advice,, I am taking it in , although struggling, 🙂

I think i was extremely embarrassed about the past and i think if i involved the crisis team... the first thing they will do is confiscate all my insulin. I feel stronger than before but i do fear that in a face to face situation that i would break down,

Thank you for recommending Samaritans, i think thats a good option for me at the moment, as not face to face and i can remain anonymous ... good thinking 🙂

I am not to sure if i am doing something wrong with my machine. i have just done a blood test (14.8) and then i just did another test but with a ketone strip in it.. the result just showed LO.. no numbers?

I do feel trapped in a loop between me lowering my levels, needing help but not involving the system to much, in need of my usual pain killers, but have to take head drugs instead ( which effect me mentally) and my levels.

All your inputs have helped me today.. more than you know.. and for that i thank you all again.

Your nearest pharmacy should be able to help you Re-calibrate your blood glucose machine so you are sure that It’s showing correct measure. Are you taking pregabalin for your neuropathy? Anyone with chronic long term illness is entitled to be referred to therapy for management of chronic illness. You can ask your GP to refer you . Any question about medications, interactions etc will be answered by myself senior oncology pharmacist

 

[Deleted member 27171]

In my doctors defense, Injecting myself with all my insulin in a moment of depression a few years ago, must have made them reluctant to give me any at all, This also made me to embarrassed to question my high levels.

Yes, I suspect you‘re right in that this was the initial reason for removing the fast acting insulin. Was this decision made by a GP or diabetes consultant? If you aren’t under the hospital team you can self refer to most centres and this might be a better option for you.
Of course the GP does need to make sure you’re safe, but any decision to withdraw your fast acting insulin should have been reviewed and followed up - so if this decision hasn‘t been reviewed in the interim years it certainly should have been, it isn’t a long term solution.

 

[Mr Lee]

I was taken into care by mental health crisis team and when allowed home i was visited twice a day by the team. I was only able to inject then, i am not sure who made that decision. But that was years ago.
My GP called earlier and have booked me to discuss diabetes on Thursday, and also i have have an appointment in worthing hospital neurology to follow on from my MRI.. that is not until 28th Sept tho. at least its progress 🙂
Just got to convince the GP that i am mentally ok 🙂

 

[KARNAK]

Hello @Mr Lee welcome to the forum.

I have been away from the forum for a while and have only just come across your thread.
Can you please explain what meds they have given you for your Neuropathy.
This is very important as a lot of the meds also deal with Depression and Epilepsy.

As a sufferer too it took a lot of experimenting to get to an acceptable pain threshold,
pain is active 24/7 but manageable now.
You have had tremendous advice already from fellow members, if your figures are as
high as you say they are you have no way of reducing your Neuropathy pain.

I take it your meter is a GlucoMen 2k can you confirm this?
An excellent meter with a lot of goodies attached.

Your figures are as everyone else say`s are to be blunt, need professional help asap,
DKA if you have not already got it can lead to death, no other way to say it but a reality.

We are here to help @Mr Lee I hope you are in hospital now or at least had treatment
from a HCP, please respond with the info I have asked for and take care.

 

[Mr Lee]

Morning,
My meter is a Glucomen LX plus, apart from my normal diabetic meds i have also been prescribed ..

Diazepam
Naproxen
Gabapentin
Dihydrocodine
Amitriptyline
Omeprazole
Ferrous fumarate

I did notice that some cover depression as well as pain blockers?
I have now stopped taking the top two and am trying to get off the codine ones, (docs orders).
I was called into Docs yesterday and i took my meter/readings as i was proud to have reduced my levels. He didn't want to see it, he had no interest. He just wanted to see my legs so he could report his findings to Worthing Neurology, Where i have a booked appointment for 28th sept. (to discuss nephropathy i guess).

 

[KARNAK]

Hi @Mr Lee quite a concoction of painkillers there, good you have a
Neurological appointment be prepared for a series of tests after the
Initial consultation, how many Gabapentin do you take at any one time?
about the only thing that may give you some form of relief.

I take 900mg three times a day plus 60mg of Duloxetine, after much experimenting
with actual pain killers was the only medication that worked for me.

In no way am I medically trained just found what worked for me, surprised the Dr
didn`t want to see your readings the higher your levels the worse it is. Its
important you reduce your figures below 10 to start with I suspect diet has a lot
to do with it, if you can post a typical day`s meals and snacks? we may be able
to help you further.

By the way Nephropathy is to do with Kidneys, Neuropathy is to do with nerve damage.

 

[Mr Lee]

Hi , i am taking 900 total in a day.

I am thinking that the Dihydrocodine seems to help most with the pain, but i haven't conducted enough testing and the Doc's say i have to come off them as overdone my limit.

The Neuropathy (spelt better this time) hospital have already undertaken some tests already, they have done MRI and nerve conduction tests, i think that's what it was? they stuck pins in my legs and measured pulses.
I wont post my typical diet at this time as you will just call me an idiot. i know i am my own worst enemy at the moment, but am trying to come to terms with this.... and change 🙂

Can you please hazard a guess on what other things/tests i could expect? i wont hold you to it .

 

[KARNAK]

Oh so you have had the conductivity tests, have you had any results yet?

Brain scan would normally come into the equation, I assume you are also
under the care of the Podiatrist team, if not why not? If need be they can
make you insoles to take the pressure off of your feet also advise you on
your footwear amongst numerous tests for nerve damage.

I attend every 6 weeks, sometimes its a look and see to make sure everything
is ok sometimes its the full works plus they cut my nails.🙂

Keep in touch we`re all here for you.

 

[Mr Lee]

Hi, I have not seen a Podiatrist team yet, I guess that is next 🙂 and i have not seen the results yet, but is does mention neuropathy.