Newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes caused by steroids

[Slayer Mum]

Hi All,
I’m Louise , 53 years old and have just been diagnosed. I had been on prednisone for a month in April for a chest condition and developed a crazy thirst and fuzzy eyes and then again in June when my chest flared up again. My hb1ac was 98!!!. I finally got an appointment with the GP today and started on metformin 500mg daily and I have to increase by 500 mg every 2 weeks until I get to 1000mg twice a day?

I just wondered if anyone had experience of this and what to expect in terms of energy levels, weight loss, GI side effects ( i have already had abdominal pain and explosions) so am hoping this settles down quickly but mostly, how quickly will my levels get down to acceptable levels.

Although I am fat round the middle and face, I would say I have a healthy diet.

Any advice welcome.

Thanks

 

[ajbod]

Metformin will not have that big an effect on your Glucose levels, unfortunately what you refer to as a healthy diet, is what is raising your levels. Forget what you ever thought was healthy, as a type 2 everything supposedly good for you, is usually very bad. Restrict Carbohydrates as much as possible.
Avoid Bread, Potatoes, Rice, Pasta, Pastry, Cakes and most fruit, Berries in moderation are good, and above all else ditch breakfast cereals. Steer clear of anything low fat.
Generally above ground vegetables are ok.
Base your meals on Protein and real fat, NOT OILS, only pure olive oil, butter, cream, FULL FAT GREEK YOGHURT.
If after a few days the bowel problems don't clear, ask to be put on slow release Metformin, it's easier on the system.
Have a mooch about the site, at success stories, and what i've eaten etc. This will give you some ideas.
If you do try the low carb route, i would expect your levels to drop pretty quickly. It may be best to gradually reduce them over a few weeks, this greatly reduces the risk of temporary nerve problems.
Give us an idea of what you usually eat, and we can point you in the right direction.
Above all else we're a friendly bunch, willing to help, and answer any questions you may have.
You already know the Prednisone effect, that does complicate things.

 

[JoKalsbeek]

Hi All,
I’m Louise , 53 years old and have just been diagnosed. I had been on prednisone for a month in April for a chest condition and developed a crazy thirst and fuzzy eyes and then again in June when my chest flared up again. My hb1ac was 98!!!. I finally got an appointment with the GP today and started on metformin 500mg daily and I have to increase by 500 mg every 2 weeks until I get to 1000mg twice a day?

I just wondered if anyone had experience of this and what to expect in terms of energy levels, weight loss, GI side effects ( i have already had abdominal pain and explosions) so am hoping this settles down quickly but mostly, how quickly will my levels get down to acceptable levels.

Although I am fat round the middle and face, I would say I have a healthy diet.

Any advice welcome.

Thanks

Good morning Louise,

Ah, yes, metformin can have that effect. Indeed, you can try slow release, see if that's any better. If it doesn't clear after 2 weeks though, it's not likely to. Don't stick with it if the runs don't go away. I did, for three of four weeks, and ended up with bloody stool, hemorrhoids and dehydration. Not fun. Even so, metformin won't reduce a HbA1c of 98 back to normal levels, it's not that powerful a drug, alas.

A diet change is still the quickest way to get your blood sugars back down, and I have to tell you, what's considered healthy for a non-diabetic, is far from it for someone who is insulin resistant. https://josekalsbeek.blogspot.com/2019/11/the-nutritional-thingy.html <-- might want to give that a read and maybe go over what your current grocerylist looks like, because it might not be doing you any favours as it is now.

Belly fat is mainly visceral fat that packs around the organs and affect their function... The same organs that regulate insulin output and sensitivity, so that's the worst kind to have. Of course, it's insulin insensitivity that gradually puts the fat there in the first place, so it's a catch-22.

Anyway, have a read over at that blogpost, and if you have any questions, shout!
Jo

 

[Slayer Mum]

Thanks Jo, today was better, no bowel problems this time so I am encouraged by that.
Regarding diet, once upon a time I trained as a naturopathic nutritionist , had nutritional therapy , balanced my blood sugar, cut out sugar, wheat and dairy for a month, and had 14 supplements, 3 x daily and lost 3 stone in 6 months. Then I met a man who was quite fussy and we had a baby and it all went to pot. On top of that I work shifts and have had so much stress and bereavement and breast cancer so that hasn’t helped .It was so easy to do when I only had myself to think about. I never did exercise ( due to a chest condition) or had portion control. Time to get tough again I think. I will have a look at the link and get shopping tomorrow.

I am hoping the fact that i have now finished this course of steroids the HBa1c may come down a bit. We’ll see.

Thanks again

 

[Slayer Mum]

I would NEVER eat breakfast cereals!!! thank you for this. I will get shopping tomorrow. I will wean myself off the carbs gently. That sounds sensible to me.

 

[Mrs HJG]

Hi @Slayer Mum my sister was diagnosed T2 from a similar HbA1c after Christmas/covid/steroids/antibiotics all in the previous couple of months - she was started on Metformin, went back to her normal non-festive diet of relatively low carb and her HbA1c was back into non-diabetic range by her 3 month review - no-one will ever know conclusively if the combination caused a glucose blip, (she was tested as she has other complications to consider, not diabetes symptoms), so maybe in a parallel universe without the testing at that particular time, she would have remained none-the wiser and/or non-diabetic. Once the steroids clear your system it will be interesting to see how far your BG falls.

I hope that the Metformin effects stay away, top tip I was given was to take them mid-meal so never on an empty stomach, works for me, but may be coincidence!

Also dropping the carbs too quickly, although great for BG, (or in my case stopping eating anything in fear of the BG effects), can make your eyesight go really blurry, (unable-to-see-without-a-powerful-magnifying glass-blurry); no-one warned me and it scared the life out of me being basically blind and off work for a month, so if it happens to you, it's horrible but it will improve as your eyes adjust from all the glucose too.

 

[Outlier]

Yup - I had the eye experience and didn't realise it was usual, but it sorted itself out very quickly.

I can only walk for exercise, and eat to hunger rather than doing portion control, but no-carb or low-carb still works well. I went keto, but it's perfectly do-able to reduce BG (and weight comes off as a side-effect) simply with low carb.

Whatever you decide, you have coped magnificently with some pretty bad circumstances, and you'll manage this too. We are all here for you.

 

[Slayer Mum]

Hi @Slayer Mum my sister was diagnosed T2 from a similar HbA1c after Christmas/covid/steroids/antibiotics all in the previous couple of months - she was started on Metformin, went back to her normal non-festive diet of relatively low carb and her HbA1c was back into non-diabetic range by her 3 month review - no-one will ever know conclusively if the combination caused a glucose blip, (she was tested as she has other complications to consider, not diabetes symptoms), so maybe in a parallel universe without the testing at that particular time, she would have remained none-the wiser and/or non-diabetic. Once the steroids clear your system it will be interesting to see how far your BG falls.

I hope that the Metformin effects stay away, top tip I was given was to take them mid-meal so never on an empty stomach, works for me, but may be coincidence!

Also dropping the carbs too quickly, although great for BG, (or in my case stopping eating anything in fear of the BG effects), can make your eyesight go really blurry, (unable-to-see-without-a-powerful-magnifying glass-blurry); no-one warned me and it scared the life out of me being basically blind and off work for a month, so if it happens to you, it's horrible but it will improve as your eyes adjust from all the glucose too.

Thanks , that’s really interesting re your sister. I am hoping it does the same with me. Whether it does or not I need to lose weight again and this has been the kick up the backside I need. when I did it before i was on a lot of supplements and it was difficult to pinpoint which was the thing that made the weight fall off. The only downside of it was that all people would talk to me about was how fantastic I looked and what was my secret!!!! I have just ordered some chromium picilonate for the cravings and blood sugar balancing and a B complex for the tingling in my toes and fatigue and to keep on top of B12.
Thanks again Mrs

 

[elliotsdad]

Hi @Slayer Mum my sister was diagnosed T2 from a similar HbA1c after Christmas/covid/steroids/antibiotics all in the previous couple of months - she was started on Metformin, went back to her normal non-festive diet of relatively low carb and her HbA1c was back into non-diabetic range by her 3 month review - no-one will ever know conclusively if the combination caused a glucose blip, (she was tested as she has other complications to consider, not diabetes symptoms), so maybe in a parallel universe without the testing at that particular time, she would have remained none-the wiser and/or non-diabetic. Once the steroids clear your system it will be interesting to see how far your BG falls.

I hope that the Metformin effects stay away, top tip I was given was to take them mid-meal so never on an empty stomach, works for me, but may be coincidence!

Also dropping the carbs too quickly, although great for BG, (or in my case stopping eating anything in fear of the BG effects), can make your eyesight go really blurry, (unable-to-see-without-a-powerful-magnifying glass-blurry); no-one warned me and it scared the life out of me being basically blind and off work for a month, so if it happens to you, it's horrible but it will improve as your eyes adjust from all the glucose too.

Hi, My name's Eric. I was diagnosed with T2 on Friday. I've totally cut out carbs (trying out the Michael Mosley Fast 800 diet). I noticed yesterday that my vision had changed in the past few days. My good eye is now nearly as fuzzy as my bad eye, and I've been quite alarmed. So I was really pleased to read your post that it might be a temporary side effect of eliminating bad carbs. Thanks !

 

[Slayer Mum]

Hi, My name's Eric. I was diagnosed with T2 on Friday. I've totally cut out carbs (trying out the Michael Mosley Fast 800 diet). I noticed yesterday that my vision had changed in the past few days. My good eye is now nearly as fuzzy as my bad eye, and I've been quite alarmed. So I was really pleased to read your post that it might be a temporary side effect of eliminating bad carbs. Thanks !

I phoned the optician and they didn’t even want to see me if that’s any comfort. Told to make appointment for when my sugars are a bit more stable but get back in touch if any sudden changes……now that i read that back I’m more concerned