Dexametasone

[Ann Bonnewell]

Hi
I have to take dexamethasone to dampen down inflammatary changes with my chemo aimed at my liver tumors. My blood sugar went up to 33.2 mmols last night. Instead of going to hospital i pinched glicazide from my husbands stache. One last night and one this morning. I stayed up late and msde sure i was okay to sleep. Woke up 14.9 and with no bladder response so drank extra water and tea. Just had plain shreddies and green top milk. Feeling a bit better. Ill contact the oncology nurse mondsy if bloods okay. I understand i should have contacted them last night but last thing i wanted was a stay in hospital and curtailment of chemo which is the only thing conquering cancer. Im a retired gp nurse practitioner as well. I just want to open up a discussion on the effects of dexamethasone with chemo as this hasnt been in past sufficiently. Any replies would be welcome as i am new to the forum and was classified as prediabetic before.

 

[Ann Bonnewell]

Just to introduce myself properly, im 68, previously very active until 2008 when i became disabled from motorbike accident affecting multiple ligaments and tendons, causing trauma induced osteo arthritis. I then developed depression relating to it. I started to get blood glucose rises on and off since but generally looked after my health as much as i could. I share three dogs and four siamese cats with my husband. Two loyal border collies and a yorkshire terrier (originally my pet but she goes to both of us for different things. I love nature, animals and birds. Love the outdoors, miss my biking but hopefully may be able to get back on my harley sitting in garage next to five of hubs bikes lol. Luckily live in a bungalow as i envisaged this as my forever home. A smallholding. Used to have sheep, pigs, cows and chickens. Grew my own veg. Huge garden is devastated by the gales and decision to reduce the old hedge running alongside so to give more view of our beatiful surroundings on Marros. I am battling cancer at moment. A long battle but hopeful despite being told i had only two weeks to live 12 months ago.

 

[Antje77]

Hi @Ann Bonnewell , welcome to the forum.
Sounds like you're really going through the mill, I hope things will get better for you soon!

My blood sugar went up to 33.2 mmols last night. Instead of going to hospital i pinched glicazide from my husbands stache. One last night and one this morning. I stayed up late and msde sure i was okay to sleep. Woke up 14.9

First: Do not take prescription medication not prescribed to you without consulting a HCP!
Second: I'm glad it worked out well and saved you a trip to the hospital!
What about contacting the oncology nurse today and explain the situation and what you did? They might have sound advice to get you through the weekend.
With gliclazide, the main side effect to be wary of is going too low, keep the glucose meter and sweets close to hand to be sure, and test if you feel funny.

Dexamethason, like all steroids, is known for raising blood glucose to alarming levels, especially in diabetics and prediabetics, and it often means medication or insulin is needed for the duration of the dexamethason. Your little experiment clearly shows this might be the case for you, but please don't do it on your own.

I just want to open up a discussion on the effects of dexamethasone with chemo as this hasnt been in past sufficiently.

I don't know much about it, but I do know dexamethason greatly improved the quality of life for my father when he had cancer.

Just had plain shreddies and green top milk.

Apart from medication to treat high blood glucose, a lot can be done with diet.
All carbs turn to glucose when ingested, so the plain shreddies will likely have raised you again.
Many of our members found that by significantly reducing the carbs in their diet, their BG came down, sometimes to non diabetic levels. This might not be enough on dexamethason but it will certainly help!
High BG's make you feel rubbish and tired, not something you need, so if you can get your numbers lower by choosing different foods, you'll likely feel a lot better too.

You might like to have a read of this on diabetes and food: https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/blog/jokalsbeek.401801/
Just be very careful because of your husbands gliclazide, not only for yourself but for your husband too!
If he suddenly eats a lot less carbs he's likely to go low if his numbers are usually reasonably controlled!

I share three dogs and four siamese cats with my husband. Two loyal border collies and a yorkshire terrier (originally my pet but she goes to both of us for different things. I love nature, animals and birds. Love the outdoors, miss my biking but hopefully may be able to get back on my harley sitting in garage next to five of hubs bikes lol. Luckily live in a bungalow as i envisaged this as my forever home. A smallholding.

Sounds amazing!
Say hello to the dogs and cats!