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New here high BS unsure what to do.

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Titch 91

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Steroid Induced Diabetes
I was diagnosed with steroid induced diabetes back in June. I'm on 2000mg slow release metformin, eating as well as I can but my BS are regularly as in every night 22.2 and as high as 27.9. Lowest they've been in 17.5 first thing in the morning without eating or taking meds.
I'm thinking I may need to speak to my GP tomorrow but not sure if I'm over reacting. I'm slightly concerned and feeling the effects of high BS.
 
What's you carb intake like @Titch 91 ? I don't know if steroid induced is any different, but generally if you reduce your carbs along with taking metformin you should see a reduction in your blood glucose. In fact many people on this forum have successfully reduced their BG without medication, just by diet.
I cut out all starchy carbs (potatoes, rice, pasta and bread) when first diagnosed, but I've found out since (thanks to this lovely forum!) that this can cause issues with vision, so best to reduce them gradually.
 
Vonny said:
What's you carb intake like @Titch 91 ? I don't know if steroid induced is any different, but generally if you reduce your carbs along with taking metformin you should see a reduction in your blood glucose. In fact many people on this forum have successfully reduced their BG without medication, just by diet.
I cut out all starchy carbs (potatoes, rice, pasta and bread) when first diagnosed, but I've found out since (thanks to this lovely forum!) that this can cause issues with vision, so best to reduce them gradually.
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I have tried to cut out most carbs, I do occasionally have brown pasta or brown rice but only small amounts. I have quite severe mobility issues and can't mobilise easily so I'm wondering if because I'm so inactive is having an impact it on.
 
Brown or white....same effect! However if you're only eating small amounts occasionally that shouldn't be keeping your BG at the levels they are. I certainly find that exercise (walking) keeps my levels down, but if you have mobility issues that certainly won't help. It may be that you need some other medication as well as the metformin. It's good that you have a GP appointment tomorrow, they should be able to advise what else is available and suitable for you. Please keep us posted.
 
I know little about steroid induced diabetes but the best course would be to seek medical advice at this point.
I have lived with those kinda numbers and remember all too well how crappy I felt. Hoping you get some help with lowering it and getting to feeling a lot better.
 
Hi Titch 91, welcome to the forum.

High numbers can be quite challenging to deal with so I would speak with your GP and explain to them the symptoms you're experiencing.

It's worth just confirming that things are well and going in the right direction so you know what to look out for moving forward.
 
I would definitely see a GP with levels that high - you must be feeling rotten.
It may be that because you can't get much exercise you'll need more or different meds to get your levels down.
It's good to bring them down slowly when they've been that high for a while, but you definitely want them to be below rather than above 17 asap.
 
I do feel so rubbish. Exhausted but constantly thirsty and needing to pee. I'm gona phone the surgery tomorrow and see what they say. Thanks for the responses!
 
Titch 91 said:
I do feel so rubbish. Exhausted but constantly thirsty and needing to pee. I'm gona phone the surgery tomorrow and see what they say. Thanks for the responses!
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The thirst etc are classic symptoms of high blood glucose.
 
Hi @Titch 91

May I ask, are you still on steroids? If so are you on a high dose? Because steroids in themselves raise BGs (which is why they can induce diabetes). From experience of talking with other steroid dependent diabetics I understand that insulin may be the best treatment for you. If your GP is not comfortable with treating you then it may be advisable to ask for a referral to a diabetes consultant, who will be much more knowledgeable and familiar with steroid use and steroid induced diabetes than most GPs. Hope you feel better soon.
 
Pattidevans said:
Hi @Titch 91

May I ask, are you still on steroids? If so are you on a high dose? Because steroids in themselves raise BGs (which is why they can induce diabetes). From experience of talking with other steroid dependent diabetics I understand that insulin may be the best treatment for you. If your GP is not comfortable with treating you then it may be advisable to ask for a referral to a diabetes consultant, who will be much more knowledgeable and familiar with steroid use and steroid induced diabetes than most GPs. Hope you feel better soon.
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Hi thank you for your message. Yes I am still on steroids at 15mg, attempting to wean to 12.5mg in 4 weeks. The diabetes nurse at the surgery is phoning me tomorrow morning. Checked blood sugars when waking and it was 17. Too high. I would like them be below 10 to hopefully minimise symptoms.
 
Titch 91 said:
Hi thank you for your message. Yes I am still on steroids at 15mg, attempting to wean to 12.5mg in 4 weeks. The diabetes nurse at the surgery is phoning me tomorrow morning. Checked blood sugars when waking and it was 17. Too high. I would like them be below 10 to hopefully minimise symptoms.
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Steroid induced diabetes is, strictly but not universally recognised by medical professionals including GPs, Type 3c.

Basically any damage to the pancreas that causes diabetes, which is neither T1 from autoimmune conditions or T2 from increased natural insulin resistance, falls under the T3c category. T3cs are best supported by spec teams at hospitals, as @Pattidevans says.
 
So GP has signed me off work for 4 weeks due to how I'm feeling and the diabetes nurse is going to be in contact tomorrow morning. Blood sugars this am were 17.5 and this evening 28.3. I feel absolutely awful. Weak, stomach ache, sleepy, ache everywhere and so thirsty. Hopefully the nurse will be helpful tomorrow and we can make some progress.
 
Are you drinking plenty of plain water to help flush that glucose out of your system. 28 is getting up to scary levels. Do you have a means of testing for Ketones.... Ketostix urine sticks that you dip into your urine?
If your levels go any higher then do you have anyone who can take you to A&E. In my opinion, if you hit 30 and have nothing to bring it down then you need to get getting urgent medical support. The stomach ache is particularly concerning. If this gets worse..... please seek emergency medical help. Don't wait until tomorrow. Also be aware of your breath smelling fruity or like pear drops. This is another sign you need urgent help.
Please let us know how you get on tomorrow but if in the meantime you feel really unwell dial 999 or get someone to take you to hospital. Take care and stay safe.
 
rebrascora said:
Are you drinking plenty of plain water to help flush that glucose out of your system. 28 is getting up to scary levels. Do you have a means of testing for Ketones.... Ketostix urine sticks that you dip into your urine?
If your levels go any higher then do you have anyone who can take you to A&E. In my opinion, if you hit 30 and have nothing to bring it down then you need to get getting urgent medical support. The stomach ache is particularly concerning. If this gets worse..... please seek emergency medical help. Don't wait until tomorrow. Also be aware of your breath smelling fruity or like pear drops. This is another sign you need urgent help.
Please let us know how you get on tomorrow but if in the meantime you feel really unwell dial 999 or get someone to take you to hospital. Take care and stay safe.
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Thank you for the reply! I didn't realise it could be that serious.. i have a carer that sleeps in my home (due to other health conditions) and they are able to take me to hospital if need be.
I don't have any ketosix but I suspect that's something I should get!

Thank you again.
 
Ketostix can be purchased over the counter at most pharmacies for about £5 for a pot of 50 or it might be 100. Your nurse could prescribe them tomorrow if you ask but if not and these high numbers persist, do get some.
Can I ask, do you have any autoimmune conditions? The reason I ask is that with those very high BG levels I would be wondering if it might not be Type 1 rather than steroid induced, especially of the steroids are being used to treat another autoimmune condition..... My sister and I both developed autoimmune conditions within a short space of time. She has Polymyalgia Rheumatica and I got Type 1. She in on long term steroid use but thankfully so far has not developed diabetes thankfully. What I am sort of getting at is that yes steroids will raise your BG but I would be very surprised if they raise them that high. Autoimmune conditions are "gregarious". They like to get together and party (wreak havoc) in the same body. So far my sister and I are quite fortunate that we have evenly shared our (likely genetic) predisposition for autoimmune and it has hit us relatively late in life. Some people are less fortunate and develop several autoimmune conditions, so thinking, if your steroids are treating another autoimmune condition, whether you might have also developed autoimmune Diabetes (Type 1) and the steroids are not at the root of this. Just my thoughts from the very small amount of information you have posted. The extremely high BG levels just seem over the top for steroid use but I could be wrong.
 
rebrascora said:
Ketostix can be purchased over the counter at most pharmacies for about £5 for a pot of 50 or it might be 100. Your nurse could prescribe them tomorrow if you ask but if not and these high numbers persist, do get some.
Can I ask, do you have any autoimmune conditions? The reason I ask is that with those very high BG levels I would be wondering if it might not be Type 1 rather than steroid induced, especially of the steroids are being used to treat another autoimmune condition..... My sister and I both developed autoimmune conditions within a short space of time. She has Polymyalgia Rheumatica and I got Type 1. She in on long term steroid use but thankfully so far has not developed diabetes thankfully. What I am sort of getting at is that yes steroids will raise your BG but I would be very surprised if they raise them that high. Autoimmune conditions are "gregarious". They like to get together and party (wreak havoc) in the same body. So far my sister and I are quite fortunate that we have evenly shared our (likely genetic) predisposition for autoimmune and it has hit us relatively late in life. Some people are less fortunate and develop several autoimmune conditions, so thinking, if your steroids are treating another autoimmune condition, whether you might have also developed autoimmune Diabetes (Type 1) and the steroids are not at the root of this. Just my thoughts from the very small amount of information you have posted. The extremely high BG levels just seem over the top for steroid use but I could be wrong.
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Thank you for that information. I take steroids because I have severe brittle asthma that is poorly controlled. Several hospital admissions. Some blood tests were done and my consultant has done a referral for immunology for me to be seen by them so I suppose it's possible that there is something else going on.
I'm feeling so unwell with my sugars being so high and though I'm taking the highest dose of metformin slow release as I couldn't tolerate the other one there is no difference to my blood sugars. Will be interesting to see what my nurse says tomorrow.
 
Spoken with the diabetic nurse, she has started me on gliclazide and i have an appointment with a diabetes specialist on 10th November to discuss things furher. Im following the 8 week blood sugar diet too from the micheal moseley book so hopefully all the combination will bring sugars down.
 
So pleased to hear both those bits of news. Particularly the consultant appointment. Did you ask about Ketostix to test for ketones? If not do please see if you can get some with your levels being so high. Whilst diabetes can be pretty slow moving most of the time, things can go awry quite quickly if ketones develop, so having a means of testing for them is a way of keeping you safer.
Hope you are feeling a bit better this morning, even if it is just as a result of some mental strain lifted. Also hope the Gliclazide works alongside your new diet. Have you been given advice about hypos? I think it will be unlikely to happen with your levels being so high at the moment but you should always be prepared and keep hypo treatment and testing kit close to hand day and night.... especially night ie by the bed. You don't want to have to go rummaging through the house for hypo treatment when you are groggy with sleep and hypo. Very much doubt it will happen with the Glic and your current levels but better safe than sorry.
Good luck and let us know how you get on.
 
No i didn't ask but i have ordered some online that should arrive tomorrow. Been told to check my sugars twice a day and more if I feel like a hypo is happening. Been told to carry something sweet with me at all times incase a hypo does happen.
Really hoping it helps!
 
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