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Cortisol levels

R

Rking

Member
Messages
7
Type of diabetes
Type 1
We have had an utter nightmare controlling my step sons type 1.
It turns out he has extremely low cortisol levels.
The hospital ran tests on him today and said if it stayed below 500, he would have to go on steroids for the rest of his life.
Well it the levels rose during the day to 535.
So now the consultant is getting advise from Alderhay hospital.
Has anyone got low cortisol levels and are on steroids?
I wondered if they improved your situation and control of your blood glucose levels.
The poor lad is really ill and we need to get him sorted asap.
 
Rking said:
We have had an utter nightmare controlling my step sons type 1.
It turns out he has extremely low cortisol levels.
The hospital ran tests on him today and said if it stayed below 500, he would have to go on steroids for the rest of his life.
Well it the levels rose during the day to 535.
So now the consultant is getting advise from Alderhay hospital.
Has anyone got low cortisol levels and are on steroids?
I wondered if they improved your situation and control of your blood glucose levels.
The poor lad is really ill and we need to get him sorted asap.
Click to expand...

So Addison's? Addison's disease is an autoimmune disease just like type 1 is an autoimmune disease. It's not that uncommon for people to have both - once you have one autoimmune disease you are more at risk of others just because your immune system has got form for attacking healthy bits of your body that you actually need.

Cortisol keeps blood sugar up. So if you aren't producing any you are going to be more at risk of hypos, because a big part of what the basal insulin we use does is fight against the increase caused by our adrenal hormones.
 
My stepsons cortisol levels are apparently very low in the morning then increase a bit as the day goes on. The consultant is a bit puzzled by this and is seeking advise.
 
Rking said:
My stepsons cortisol levels are apparently very low in the morning then increase a bit as the day goes on. The consultant is a bit puzzled by this and is seeking advise.
Click to expand...

Hi there - How did the medics assess your stepson throughout the day? Did he have periodic blood tests done, sort of 08:00, 12:00, 16:00 and 20:00?

Aside from it impacting his T1, which must be horrid enough, does he have any other symptoms?
 
Yeas he had periodic blood tests as you mentioned. His bloods are very low, he has lower back pain, loss of appetite and is asleep most of the time as he's so exhausted.
 
Rking said:
Yeas he had periodic blood tests as you mentioned. His bloods are very low, he has lower back pain, loss of appetite and is asleep most of the time as he's so exhausted.
Click to expand...

Thank you for responding Rking.

As I understand it, the use of that test regime is pretty unusual in the UK (although much more common in the US). I do hope the young man can get the help he needs to perk up a bit. Total exhaustion isn't any fun at all.
 
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