Still getting high sugars

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Titch 91

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Steroid Induced Diabetes
Taking 1000mg metformin twice a day and glicizide 80mg twice a day. Lowest reading is 13.8 and highest is 24.2. Tonight 2 hours after eating my sugars are 18.9. I literally don't know what to do to bring them down. All I had for dinner was some garlic chicken and green veg and a small amount of Greek yoghurt with honey. Surely that can't be that bad?!
 
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I really don't think this is steroid induced diabetes and if it is, then you have gone beyond the scope of the meds you are taking. You need something else and I would push for insulin. Have you been testing your urine for Ketones when your levels are that high? I think you had ordered some online if I remember rightly.

How are you feeling in yourself. Did you speak to the nurse yesterday about your levels.... I seem to remember there was an agreement to touch base and see how things were going.

Obviously the honey is high carb but I imagine you only had a small amount and everything else you mention is very low carb so I really don't think you can do any more with your diet and the Gliclazide isn't working, so I really think they need to introduce insulin.

Personally I think you need to be referred to a specialist clinic for more intensive support and investigation but definitely looks like they need to up the ante with meds.
 
rebrascora said:
I really don't think this is steroid induced diabetes and if it is, then you have gone beyond the scope of the meds you are taking. You need something else and I would push for insulin. Have you been testing your urine for Ketones when your levels are that high? I think you had ordered some online if I remember rightly.

How are you feeling in yourself. Did you speak to the nurse yesterday about your levels.... I seem to remember there was an agreement to touch base and see how things were going.

Obviously the honey is high carb but I imagine you only had a small amount and everything else you mention is very low carb so I really don't think you can do any more with your diet and the Gliclazide isn't working, so I really think they need to introduce insulin.

Personally I think you need to be referred to a specialist clinic for more intensive support and investigation but definitely looks like they need to up the ante with meds.
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I have been testing for ketones, there's trace amounts so I don't think I need to worry too much but am keeping an eye.

It wasn't even a whole teaspoon of honey so wasn't alot at all just enough to make the Greek.yoghurt taste better .

Nurse said yesterday to keep going over the weekend and we would review again on Monday and that she was gona speak to a doctor about the way forward.

I'm feeling extremely tired, I have slept most of the day to be honest. I'm so exhausted. I have no idea what is going on with my body anymore.
 
Do push for insulin on Monday and if they say no, ask why not. If they say the risk of hypos, tell them that they are risking your general health in leaving levels really high like this and how awful you feel and how weary you are. Make sure to tell them that you have done everything possible with diet to reduce your levels and you are too exhausted to exercise. Some doctors and nurses have no idea just how tired and ill high levels make you feel. Unfortunately in the current climate particularly you have to be politely pushy to get the help and support you need but don't be frightened to ask for something if you think it will help and ask why not if they say no and politely but persistently challenge them.
Good that you haven't got more than a trace of ketones but do keep an eye on that as it can suddenly change. I didn't develop ketones but I still turned out to be Type 1 and needed insulin. People here pushed me to ask for insulin and it took all my courage to do so and I was rebuffed.... but 2 days later my nurse called me and started me on insulin.... so someone had a rethink somewhere and I am so thankful they did. Using insulin is not easy.... it takes time to learn and it is a balancing act, but it will enable you to feel better and we will be here to support you and answer any questions or just reassure you.
 
rebrascora said:
Do push for insulin on Monday and if they say no, ask why not. If they say the risk of hypos, tell them that they are risking your general health in leaving levels really high like this and how awful you feel and how weary you are. Make sure to tell them that you have done everything possible with diet to reduce your levels and you are too exhausted to exercise. Some doctors and nurses have no idea just how tired and ill high levels make you feel. Unfortunately in the current climate particularly you have to be politely pushy to get the help and support you need but don't be frightened to ask for something if you think it will help and ask why not if they say no and politely but persistently challenge them.
Good that you haven't got more than a trace of ketones but do keep an eye on that as it can suddenly change. I didn't develop ketones but I still turned out to be Type 1 and needed insulin. People here pushed me to ask for insulin and it took all my courage to do so and I was rebuffed.... but 2 days later my nurse called me and started me on insulin.... so someone had a rethink somewhere and I am so thankful they did. Using insulin is not easy.... it takes time to learn and it is a balancing act, but it will enable you to feel better and we will be here to support you and answer any questions or just reassure you.
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Thanks for all the advice. I expect her to say increase the gliclazide again but if its not worked at all so far I don't imagine it will make much difference the metformin has done nothing too.. it is a worry. I'm starting to worry about kidney damage and heart damage if I'm honest. I feel so tired and thirsty and constantly needing a wee. I'm spending all my time sleeping and peeing at the moment!
I expect I do need to be under a specialist and they are probably the best ones to advise me.
It's making me miserable!
 
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I totally understand. I had two weeks of the drinking gallons of water and weeing for England day and night before I went to the GP for help and then a further 5 weeks of Metformin followed by Gliclazide, neither of which had any effect before I was started on insulin. That zombie feeling of hauling yourself out of bed multiple times every night to go to the loo, drink water and go back to sleep just to wake up an hour later and do it again really takes it out of you after a few weeks.

Do make it clear that you are not happy about taking more Gliclazide if you don't see any sign of it working and ask for insulin.

As regards your concerns all I can say is that I don't seem to have developed any damage as a result of my high levels during that period. It is however important to bring them down slowly, so once you (hopefully) start on insulin, you want to be looking for a slow steady reduction rather than aiming for in range readings within a few days. Slow and steady is the best way but you do need to be seeing some progress soon.
 
Sorry to hear you are having such a rough time @Titch 91

It does sound like the meds you are on are not working for you.

You might ask for a cPeptide test, which will measure how much insulin you are able to produce. If you’ve lost beta-cell function it may be that Gliclazide doesn’t have much to work with (it works by pushing the pancreas to release more insulin).

Hope you get some positive directions at your appointment, rather than just more of the same :(
 
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