T2s on insulin for steroids

xfieldok

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,182
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Thanks for the link. I am using freestyle libre. This showed up getting close to hypo during early hours. Low 3s. Now under instruction to eat a sandwich during the night.
The steroids are going to take a year before weaning off.
On glic I am peaking at 18 but the duration of highs us around 8 hours.
The next few days will be interesting.
 

DCUKMod

Master
Staff Member
Messages
14,298
Type of diabetes
I reversed my Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Thanks for the link. I am using freestyle libre. This showed up getting close to hypo during early hours. Low 3s. Now under instruction to eat a sandwich during the night.
The steroids are going to take a year before weaning off.
On glic I am peaking at 18 but the duration of highs us around 8 hours.
The next few days will be interesting.

xfieldok - Have you tested in the early hours when your Libre is showing these low numbers? When I use the Libre, it almost always has me running at 2.2, all night every night. Now my (unmedicated) numbers can be pretty low, but it's way more likely these low numbers, for me, are compression lows. Compression lows happen in some people, when they lie on their sensor.

Bearing in mind these numbers matter to you (for me, mine are a ginagerous so what), it could be worthwhile setting an alarm to finger prick test in the early hours.

To be honest, on the times I have sense checked these silly (for me) numbers, I have left my testing kit, open, on my bedside table, so that I could quickly test and go back to sleep. You can even look at the result on your meter in the morning, if you're trying to minimise the waking time.
 

xfieldok

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,182
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
@DCUKMod yes I do have my Tee2 on standby but don't always use it. The times I have checked, it has confirmed the lows. I am aslo using the reader to watch the drop. If sufficient time has elapsed I may also do a scan.

I set my alarm for silly o'clock but sometimes I can't sleep. This will work itself out over the next few days.

The link that Simon gave above has just the information I was looking for.

I may come across as over anxious but really I am just trying to gather data to try and get sorted as soon as possible.
 

xfieldok

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,182
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
OK listen up people - Plan B.

Firstly, massive thanks to @SimonCrox for the article. It is very similar to something else I read but the article you pointed me at was more readable from a layperson's point of view.

Bearing in mind that I have two major issues, the diabetes and the myasthenia gravis. The meds for the MG don't seen to be taking effect and I have been asked by the neurologist on more than one occasion to go as an inpatient, so far I have resisted.

So, tomorrow I am going to take my usual dose of 2 glicazide. I am going to phone the neurologist's secreatry and see if I can talk to them with a view to going in. Hopefully the registrar will phone me and we can discuss. I can also explain my dilema with the diabetes.

I will see my DN tomorrow and tell her about the glicazide, if she wants me to stop and take the insulin, this can be done the following day. No biggy.

If they agree to take me in, hopefully I can go Monday. That gives me some time to sort out stuff here, find a babysitter for the dogs, make a pan of stew and charge up all batteries! Funny the things you think of.

They may not actually want me to go in, I don't know until I ask. I just feel that a huge weight has been lifted.

Will set my alarm for early morning to check on numbers, but I bet I sleep tonight!

Will report back tomorrow.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Brunneria

xfieldok

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,182
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Update. No change at the moment. Had a really good chat with the DN. A specialist diabetes nurse attends the surgery once a month and I am booked in to see her Monday. DN said no point changing things now to change again on Monday. If I happen to go inpatient then the hospital will probably arrange for their diabetic team to see me. So win win as far as I am concerned.

Not heard back from hospital yet but can even wait until Monday if I have to.

Feel more in control of the situation and happy to plod on for the next few days.
 

Debandez

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,019
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
Treatment type
Diet only
Update. No change at the moment. Had a really good chat with the DN. A specialist diabetes nurse attends the surgery once a month and I am booked in to see her Monday. DN said no point changing things now to change again on Monday. If I happen to go inpatient then the hospital will probably arrange for their diabetic team to see me. So win win as far as I am concerned.

Not heard back from hospital yet but can even wait until Monday if I have to.

Feel more in control of the situation and happy to plod on for the next few days.
So good to see you gaining control. You will get there, no doubt about it.
 

DCUKMod

Master
Staff Member
Messages
14,298
Type of diabetes
I reversed my Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Update. No change at the moment. Had a really good chat with the DN. A specialist diabetes nurse attends the surgery once a month and I am booked in to see her Monday. DN said no point changing things now to change again on Monday. If I happen to go inpatient then the hospital will probably arrange for their diabetic team to see me. So win win as far as I am concerned.

Not heard back from hospital yet but can even wait until Monday if I have to.

Feel more in control of the situation and happy to plod on for the next few days.

I'm so glad to see your mind settled xfieldok. That makes such a difference to how the world and the future looks.

Fingers crossed for you.
 

xfieldok

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,182
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Update: spoke with neurologist yesterday. Woe is me! I thought I was on my max dose of steroids. Sadly not. Currently taking 8 of the little devils, I have to work my way up to 12. Only then can I expect to see an improvement. The purpose of being an inpatient is to keep an eye on you whilst they get them into you at a faster rate.

So, given that I should be on the max dose within a couple of weeks anyway, set against the inconvenience of being away from home and puppies, I decided that I wouldn't go in.

Good job I found out about the extra steroids before I see the specialist nurse on Monday.

I don't qualify at the moment but there is a chance I may get the freestyle libre on prescription at some point and DN is trying to source me a ketone meter. I have a caresens but the surgery doesn't use the strips.

It may look, on the face of it, nothing much has changed. I feel so much better though. Had a really good sleep last night. It did involve jelly babies and a couple of biccys but I am kinda getting the hang of things.
 

DCUKMod

Master
Staff Member
Messages
14,298
Type of diabetes
I reversed my Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Sometimes, just having that discussion and gaining a slightly wider perspective is enough to improve mood.

Stick with it. It sounds like your team have your back.
 

SimonCrox

Well-Known Member
Messages
317
Sometimes the neurologists suggest alternate days big dose steroids for myaesthenia to try and reduce steroid side effects; this is a real pain cos one day high and one day low, so beware this suggestion.
I guess that they are suggesting something to protect your bones on the 60mg pred per day for 1 year?
Good luck
Best wishes
 

xfieldok

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,182
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Yes, tablets to try and avoid osteoperosis. Thanks for the heads up on alternate days doses. Doesn't sound as though I would like this thrown into the mix.
 

xfieldok

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,182
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Been to see the specialist nurse and spent 45 minutes with her.

Cut a long story short, stop glicazide after today. Starting humulin I tomorrow. Low dose increasing every 3 days depending upon readings. My aim is to get readings between 8 and 10. I may need to add some carbs into the mix.

Thought I was on max dose of steroids but they go up again on Wednesday and max dose is the Wednesday after. So probably going to take a while but just glad to be getting on with it.
 

Goonergal

Master
Retired Moderator
Messages
13,466
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
@xfieldok what a journey and a rollercoaster for you. At least you seem to be getting good input from the neurologist and the DN. Take care.
 

xfieldok

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,182
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Thank you @Goonergal. After I stop taking the glicazide (last dose was today) and there is nothing to stop the rise in BG levels, and the increase of steroids is on Wednesday, I think there are going to be some urgent phone calls to 111 and the GPs surgery!

They are starting me of on 12 units of humilin I but I can only up the dose after 3 days. Being as I have had readings of 21 with glicazide, the next few days are going to be interesting.

I think it just a question of keeping my nerve, being sensible and trying to retain a sense of humour. Husband knows how to scan me in case of an emergency should the need arise. My current sensor runs out in 4 days, so in 2 days I will be plugging in the next one, double bionic!
 

xfieldok

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,182
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Injection went ok this morning, except I pricked my finger putting the needle in the sharp box!

Husband and I have made an executive decision not to increase the steroids until next week after I have seen the neurologist. I am currently running at 18 and it's still climbing. I can't increase the dose before 3 days are up. At least this gives me the chance to adjust a couple of times before my appointment.
 

DCUKMod

Master
Staff Member
Messages
14,298
Type of diabetes
I reversed my Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi there, @xfieldok - How's it going, with a couple of weeks under your belt?
 

xfieldok

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,182
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Frankly it is driving me nuts. I take the humulin I at the same time as the steroids and it lasts around 3 hours. Then I take the novorapid which may or may not have any effect. Or like yesterday, sends me hypo. After jelly babies and biscuits, spent most of the day around 18. Considered more novorapid to bring it down but I really don't know what I am doing.

On a happier note, the paws can reach the table and the tongues can reach the plate!