Should I be worried?

[kentish maid]

In January 2021 my GP prescribed me steroids for Polymyalgia Rheumatica and advised me that the steroids could affect my blood sugar levels. At the time I was pre-diabetic and was controlling my blood sugar levels by diet. The GP supplied me with a monitor and I have been testing 4 times a day. I have noticed that over the last few days my average reading on waking is 5.8 but 2 hours after my evening meal the average is 10. I haven't made any changes to my diet, and am on a slowly decreasing dose of steroids. Things are rather stressful at the moment, and the high readings are not helping.

 

[NotWorriedAtAll]

I wouldn't be too anxious but it isn't a great reading.
If you want to bring it down a bit you could have a go at reducing your carb intake a bit more by making some swaps and that might do the trick. Or you could reduce the size of meals a bit and that might do it too.

I found drinking more water also helps bring the levels down a bit.

I don't know what exercise you are able to manage but some gentle activity after each meal can also help.
Also I found doing relaxation exercises help a lot. Meditations can be found on YouTube and a five minutes stint of just breathing while listening to something soothing can really help to reduce the stress levels and stress will also raise blood sugars.

 

[kentish maid]

I was wondering if stress could be causing the raised blood sugars @NotWorriedAtAll . I was doing Qi Gong for a while, until the DVD player packed up. Maybe I should try and find it online.
I am hoping to avoid Metformin as I already have problems with my digestive system and I understand it can cause an upset stomach.

 

[NotWorriedAtAll]

I was wondering if stress could be causing the raised blood sugars @NotWorriedAtAll . I was doing Qi Gong for a while, until the DVD player packed up. Maybe I should try and find it online.
I am hoping to avoid Metformin as I already have problems with my digestive system and I understand it can cause an upset stomach.

I never got an upset stomach with it (I took it for years a long time ago for PCOS) but it gave me a terrible dry mouth, nightmares and for the short time I was put on it at diagnosis of my diabetes it gave me the runs.

I think stress can cause a LOT of negative health problems - cortisol is a real villain in the blood stream and it surges with stress unfortunately.

 

[Leadinglights]

I'm sure stress has a big impact as I had a couple of stressful years at work before I retired due to a bully as a manager and then the start of the pandemic with daughters and son in law on the front line in the NHS, blood pressure was high and I didn't sleep properly. Diet slipped, reduced exercise (job was pretty active) pushed levels into diabetic zone.

 

[kentish maid]

I guess I'm lucky @Leadinglights, with regards exercise as our dog makes sure I get out at least once a day, but I rarely get a full nights sleep, I am getting through an awful lot of library books.

 

[Leadinglights]

I guess I'm lucky @Leadinglights, with regards exercise as our dog makes sure I get out at least once a day, but I rarely get a full nights sleep, I am getting through an awful lot of library books.

Yes we've made a real effort on exercise and walk 3 - 4 miles most days and low carb diet I've managed to get back on track. Lots of good tips and ideas from folk on here as well.