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Advice after very high BG reading?

N

Nick Preece

Member
Messages
5
Type of diabetes
Family member
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi folks,

I was wondering if anyone knows the course of action, if any, we need to follow with my mother-in-law?

We've been worried about her health for a while now as she is over weight, constantly tired and suffers from Polymyalgia. She has been on Prednisalone for about 18 months which has slowly reduced in levels. The steroids have helped with her condition but for a long while she has been suffering from terrible dry mouth that drives her to distraction, extreme tiredness and general lethargy.
A few months ago my wife told me the doctors had said she was now borderline diabetic which started me worrying immediately.
I don't have diabetes but I do test myself regularly as I'm a road race cyclist and love learning and experimenting with my diet and training and watching how my body reacts and most importantly I read constantly so when told of this borderline diabetes I was concerned that my wife and mother in law didn't seem too bothered!!

Anyway, last week she was very sadly diagnosed as type 2 diabetic and has been given Metaformin. I have come accross research showing the links to steroids and diabetes so it's not wholly surprising that it has developed.

I've never before tested her for high blood sugar levels before so decided to yesterday and was shocked to see it at 28.1.
I didn't think at the time but I should have tested her blood ketones too I think?

My real concern is that as this is seriously high it is doing her some real damage. I'm going to test her again later today and see if its any lower.
She isn't due to see the doctor for a while yet but is seeing the diabetic nutritionist next week.

Surely though with levels as high as 28.1 diet isn't going to help and she may need insulin to bring it down?

My wife and I are really anxious about it so if anyone has advice as to what to do next?

Many thanks in advance.

Nick.
 
Hi. I think you are right to be worried. I think going onto insulin for a while might make sense. I would either book an emergency appointment with the local surgery DN or GP or just go to A&E. You can buy Ketotix at most pharmacies to test for ketones. Your mother-in-law needs to immediately seriously reduce her carbs and have plenty of water, tea etc. Steroids are a big problem when it comes to diabetes and the lowest possible dose should be used consistent with them still doing their job.
 
Hi Daibell

thanks for the swift reply. I have a blood ketone meter I use to test myself so will take reading for that and BG later.
She has now booked to see the diabetic nurse first thing in the morning.

What I'm very surprised about now is the nurse has just said that 'Yes, your blood sugar was 28+ last week too!! I can't believe they just ignore it??

After the 3 of us all ate the same meal yesterday I tested our BG levels. Mother in law was 28.1, my wife was 11 (Which sounds very high too??) and mine was 5.4. I think I should keep an eye on my wifes levels too........what do you think?

thanks once again for your advice

best wishes

Nick.
 
Oh my, how ignorant they can be! Cortisone meds like Pred can CAUSE diabetes so she should have monitored regarding bg. Its usually reversible if you stop the Prednisolone, but she may have to stay on them for the rest of her life. Long-term cortisone treatment can make the adrenals go to sleep and stop working.

Has she had B12 and folate tested? If not, ask she gets the test. A CBC can be in order,too.
 
hi, yes id would test your wife again also, test 2 hours after a meal and see what she is then, but i would want to have her hba1c tested at the doctors, it doesn't personally surprise me that the doctor didn't take her seriously, my personal experience of doctors isn't great, my dad was told its ok to drink alcohol and eat cakes right up until diabetes killed him, best of luck
 
Many thanks for all the replies folks......really appreciate it!

best wishes

nick.
 
Hi Folks

Quick update on the situation which may lead you to comment further!

I tested mother in laws blood again 2 hours after a chicken and salad dinner last night and it was 15.3 so still very high!?

Appointment with diabetic nurse today was pathetic. Blood glucose was over 20 again mid afternoon when the nurse tested but she didn't seem too concerned!!

She couldn't answer half the questions levelled at her and just asked Olive to up her Metaformin to 4 tablets a day. Told her she must eat some carbs otherwise she'd have no energy and try and eat her 5 a day!!

From where I'm standing I think Olive could eat carbs all day long but if her body is obviously not recognising the glucose in her blood and the insulin isn't being provided to stimulate the cells to take it in then they are not receiving the energy anyway..........hence she has no energy all the time already!!
So frustrating when we were looking for some technical and serious answers as to how they are going to help her get better in the long term.

I'll keep you all posted

many thanks

Nick.
 
What is your mother in laws´s take on the situation? What does she want?

One option is to go low-carb, you know. There are lots of good advice on LCHF here and in other places, and LCHF might help her to loose weight along with better bg control. At least a low-carb diet might help her short-term with the high bg.

Has she seen any kind of doctor in the last week? Or only the nurse?
 
Hi Totto

she saw the doctor last week and they tested her blood sugar and recorded over 28. The doctor told her to take one metaformin tablet a day and she started with it on Saturday. We thought the nurse was going to go through how to manage it and test her blood herself etc. but thats not what happened. I've ordered another meter and a load of test strips for her and am going to get her into the habit of testing every morning and after her meals to see what keeps it low and what spikes it.

Olive will do anything to sort it out including diet.

I'm a big fan of the LCHF diet having tried it myself last year to see what happened.........its the only time I've been able to eat 3500 calories a day and not put on weight!! I know she'd try it if it would help.

I also tested her blood ketones yesterday but they were fine which was a relief.

What Olive really wants is some solid answers and guidance of how best to continue. I seem to be far more worried about her levels than either her doctor or the diabetic nurse?? Maybe I'm worrying over nothing and its fine to have very high BG for a period of time??

The nurse is sending her for an eye test too as she has been complaining of blurry eyes lately that don't feel right?

Cheers

Nick.
 
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