Steroid induced diabetes

Lins Berry

Member
Messages
5
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I have been diagnosed with steroid induced diabetes after being on prednisolone for 3 years for rheumatoid arthritis. Has anyone else got this?
I have been put on gliclazide, and I have had to increase it from 40mg to 180mg twice a day as my sugars still go up to 22-25.
I have a chest infection, and they think this is the cause, but surely such a high dose should be helping?
 

ButtterflyLady

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,291
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Acceptance of health treatment claims that are not adequately supported by evidence. I dislike it when people sell ineffective and even harmful alternative health products to exploit the desperation of people with chronic illness.
Welcome to the forum. I don't know much about steroids, but others here do, and I am sure they will pop in and say something about them.

I also don't know much about gliclazide but I'm not sure it is meant to reduce blood glucose to the extent you need it to, if you aren't also looking at what you eat, or you haven't been correctly diagnosed. How long have you been taking the medication? It's very important for people with T2 diabetes to reduce carbs and sugar in their diet.

A chest infection can increase blood glucose levels, but 22-25 does seem quite high. I have heard of people having their urine tested for ketones if their blood glucose is that high, as it can indicate a serious problem needing urgent treatment. I could be wrong about that though.

I will tag @daisy1 as she has some good info for people new to the forum that she can provide for you.
 
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daisy1

Legend
Messages
26,457
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Cruelty towards animals.
@Lins Berry

Hello Lins and welcome to the forum :)

Here is the basic information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask as many questions as you want and someone will be able to help.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you’ll find over 150,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:

  • Reduce your carbohydrate intake
  • Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates

Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes-and-whole-grains.html

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes

Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)
  • Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:

  • structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
  • self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to bloodglucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
 

fred1234

Well-Known Member
Messages
118
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi
I have steroid induced insulin dependent diabetes. I have had this for 3 years. I have copd hence maintenance dose of steroids 20mg daily. I inject 8 units daily of novomix30 insulin at lunch time. I don't take any other medications for my diabetes. I frequently suffer from exacerbation of my chest and have to increase my steroids and usually antibiotics but my sugars never go that high.

You should I think get advice from your gp or Dsn on your levels as they do seem rather high although I'm no expert whatsoever. Also watching my carbs and sugars has helped, trying to come to grips with carb watching!!!!

Hope your levels come down soon and you feel better
 
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Pinkorchid

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,927
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Yes my husband was diagnosed just over a year ago with steroid induced T2. He took Prednisolone for three years for Polymyligia He did not have very high blood glucose when diagnosed it was just over 7 he only takes Metformin
 
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Reactions: 3 people

Lins Berry

Member
Messages
5
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Welcome to the forum. I don't know much about steroids, but others here do, and I am sure they will pop in and say something about them.

I also don't know much about gliclazide but I'm not sure it is meant to reduce blood glucose to the extent you need it to, if you aren't also looking at what you eat, or you haven't been correctly diagnosed. How long have you been taking the medication? It's very important for people with T2 diabetes to reduce carbs and sugar in their diet.

A chest infection can increase blood glucose levels, but 22-25 does seem quite high. I have heard of people having their urine tested for ketones if their blood glucose is that high, as it can indicate a serious problem needing urgent treatment. I could be wrong about that though.

I will tag @daisy1 as she has some good info for people new to the forum that she can provide for you.

Thanks for the reply.
I have been diagnosed for and on medication for 2 weeks, I did end up in hospital last week because of keytones, I was on a drip for 12 hours and that flushed them out.
I spoke to my nurse yesterday and increased the gliclazide to 160mg twice a day, today seems to be the turn around point, the highest my sugars have been is 17.2, so I'm pleased. She is calling me later in the week to maybe increase it again.
I have read through the forum and got lots of info, I didn't realise about carbs until I came on here!!! I though I just had to cut out sugar. So thank you everyone
 
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Reactions: 3 people

Lins Berry

Member
Messages
5
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
@Lins Berry

Hello Lins and welcome to the forum :)

Here is the basic information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask as many questions as you want and someone will be able to help.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you’ll find over 150,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:

  • Reduce your carbohydrate intake
  • Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates

Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes-and-whole-grains.html

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes

Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)
  • Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:

  • structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
  • self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to bloodglucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
Thanks for the advice it's very much appreciated!
 

Lins Berry

Member
Messages
5
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi
I have steroid induced insulin dependent diabetes. I have had this for 3 years. I have copd hence maintenance dose of steroids 20mg daily. I inject 8 units daily of novomix30 insulin at lunch time. I don't take any other medications for my diabetes. I frequently suffer from exacerbation of my chest and have to increase my steroids and usually antibiotics but my sugars never go that high.

You should I think get advice from your gp or Dsn on your levels as they do seem rather high although I'm no expert whatsoever. Also watching my carbs and sugars has helped, trying to come to grips with carb watching!!!!

Hope your levels come down soon and you feel better

Thank you, it's good to know there are others out there with it, I had never heard of it before I was told I had it.
I am trying to come off the steroids and try biological drugs for my arthritis, poor you though sounds like you can't do that!
 

Lins Berry

Member
Messages
5
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Yes my husband was diagnosed just over a year ago with steroid induced T2. He took Prednisolone for three years for Polymyligia He did not have very high blood glucose when diagnosed it was just over 7 he only takes Metformin
Thanks for replying and glad your husband is managing to keep things under control
 

ButtterflyLady

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,291
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Acceptance of health treatment claims that are not adequately supported by evidence. I dislike it when people sell ineffective and even harmful alternative health products to exploit the desperation of people with chronic illness.
Thanks for the reply.
I have been diagnosed for and on medication for 2 weeks, I did end up in hospital last week because of keytones, I was on a drip for 12 hours and that flushed them out.
I spoke to my nurse yesterday and increased the gliclazide to 160mg twice a day, today seems to be the turn around point, the highest my sugars have been is 17.2, so I'm pleased. She is calling me later in the week to maybe increase it again.
I have read through the forum and got lots of info, I didn't realise about carbs until I came on here!!! I though I just had to cut out sugar. So thank you everyone
I'm so pleased to hear things are improving. Reducing your carbs should really help.
 
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