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Bms and Steroids

K

Kipper25

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I was diagnosed with type2 Diabetes over ten years ago, which was controlled with Metformin, recently my Diabetic Review My nurse has also started me on Alogliptin, which as far as I know has been well tolerated with no side effects.
However, I developed one of these horrible Cold Bugs/Chest Infection which is still in my system. Two courses of Antibiotics and Steroids, which do seem to be helping, but the steroids have caused my BMs to spike to 13.8mmols. Can anyone offer any advice on what to do? Thanks, Kipper25
 
Welcome to the forums @Kipper25

Steroids are reknowned for raising bgs so there is a good chance that your levels will go back to normal when you finish the course. Otherwise, reducing the carbs in your diet or taking more exercise may help, but you'll need to be careful because I believer that alogliptin can cause hypos (low blood sugar).

If you have a read of the boards, you'll see that a lot of the T2s posting manage to reduce or avoid medication by lowering carbs.

Here's jokalsbeek excellent blog explaining the low carb approach

JoKalsbeek's blog | Diabetes Forum • The Global Diabetes Community

Good luck. Hopefully some T2s will be along soon to give you more informed advice.

(edited for typo)
 
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Hi @Kipper25 and welcome

I’ll tag a couple of other type2s that I know have taken steroids @xfieldok @JohnEGreen , although as Ellie says, if it’s a temporary thing, your bloods will likely return to normal once the course is finished.
 
Also bear in mind that illness can cause a rise in blood sugar levels.
So the sooner you can overcome your infection, the sooner your levels should return to normal.
 
Having been taking steriods a longish time I found the only way to control my levels was through a reduction of carbs to a very low level but as has been said if you are on glucose reducing meds you have to take care when going low carb.
If you are on only a short term course of steroids once you stop taking them your blood sugar levels should settle back down to your normal levels after a short while so it may be that you need to accept raised levels while taking steroids and reduce them by diet if you can. But not worry too much if you can't.
 
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