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Even Though You're Taking Insulin And Eating Right, Can Stress Cause Dka?

R

RiRi80

Member
Messages
7
Type of diabetes
Type 1
I'm very stressed at the minute and even though I'm sticking to my usual routine, my blood sugars are up and have very high ketone levels.
Can stress / depression cause this? As I know when unwell with sickness/illness it can mess with blood sugars etc
 

How high is your blood sugar @RiRi80 ?

Are you able/have you tried doing correction doses?

Yes, stress can put your blood sugar up, but don't rule out other things contributing too like 'gone off' insulin or illness.

If your blood sugar is high and you have ketones, it would be sensible to give 111 a call and get some advice.
 
Hi @RiRi80
stress can cause BG's to rise
but at the kind of levels you speak of -- you need to get them lower quickly yourself ( below 12.0 )-- or get some help from either 111 or from your DSN in the morning !!
 
Was 10.0 an hour ago, so going down slowly, but have been over 18 earlier and yesterday. Insulin is all in date.
I was admitted to hospital for DKA back 2 months ago. Really don't want to go back if I can help it
 
hi @RiRi80
thanks for replying -- it is a huge relief knowing that anyone who posts is still with us.

over the next few months if you are feeling like it -- this community can be a great source of help and i can highly recommend it .
if you are not so comfortable on the open forum then reading all the topics here can certainly help with direction.

all the best
himtoo !
 
RiRi80 said:
Was 10.0 an hour ago, so going down slowly, but have been over 18 earlier and yesterday. Insulin is all in date.
I was admitted to hospital for DKA back 2 months ago. Really don't want to go back if I can help it
Click to expand...

Even if your insulin is in date, it can still deteriorate and become less effective at room temp. So changing insulin pens/cartridges/vials is always a good thing to do if you have unexplained highs.

Give your DSN a call for advice today, even if your BS has gone down. If it is stress, it may happen again and it would be good to have advice from her/him about what to do.

There's lots of suggestions here to control highs - things like accurate carb counting, adjusting meal time ratios, correction doses.

Do ask whatever you want
 
Spoke to DSN today. She advised to increase doses and see how I get on, if no better in a few days
to call her. BS levels been up still today, but not as bad as they have been. Ketone levels have gone down but still traces. Going through a really stressful time at the moment, and told the nurse I think it may go up again in the next few days/weeks. She said I can call anytime for advice/support, so good to know I've got that support there if needed. Just hope I can sort these levels out soon
 
That's great your DSN was helpful Sorry you're so stressed. I know how hard sorting out diabetes while dealing with stress can be.

i hope your levels come down soon.
 
Stress sucks, but stress does not cause DKA. Stress can only cause sugars to rise (in some), its the high sugars that cause DKA, not the stress. So even though you are stressed and your sugars are going up you have to exercise more, and inject more to keep them down.
 
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