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Hi all advice needed

teddybear74

Well-Known Member
Messages
265
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi all I’m in need of some advice before I call 111 and wait hours for an answer. I’m type 2 on 100g metformin sr and 8ui insulin o have just been put on 40mg steroids for asthma and I’m on the last day of the 3 day course and I feel awful I’m sleeping all day I’m thirsty and the frequent trips to the loo is a joke my peak flow for my asthma hasn’t really improved much so what can I do I am at a loss
 

Steroids can raise your blood glucose levels. What are your levels now?
 
That’s on a contour next machine I don’t know how to get numbers up my other machine is in work as I left it there by mistake before I went ill
 
When meters say 'Hi' or 'High' it means their reader can't read that high, in many cases it means the reading is over 30(ish) mmol/L.
If you retest (after making sure your hands are clean) and confirms such a high number (or says Hi/High) then definitely call 111 and ask advice - because that high is not good at all (and if nothing else will make you feel pretty terrible) and needs to be brought down.
 
That was with clean hands I have taken 1000mg metformin st and not duecto take another 1000mg and insulin till bedtime I’m drinking like a fish I know today was my last steroid dose so how long do they stay in your system for. I was hoping to go back to work tomorrow night but can see it like this
 
teddybear74 said:
My meter just flashes yellow and says high
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teddybear74 said:
That’s on a contour next machine I don’t know how to get numbers up my other machine is in work as I left it there by mistake before I went ill
Click to expand...

According to the Contour website, when the Contour Next reads 'high' , "This indicates your test result may be above 600 mg/dL."

In our money that's over 33mmol so I think you should call 111 soon.

https://contournext.esecurecare.net...y-contour®-meter-is-flashing-hi,-why-is-this?
 
Could that be the reason for excessive thirst toilet trips and loss of appetite and tiredness I though it was the virus the st said I might have
 
Whoah, @teddybear74 , this is ringing a lot of alarm bells.

There are reports of steroids inducing DKA in T2s and even in non-Ts:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjAAegQIAxAB&usg=AOvVaw3hNia2wAtAOFHq-zp6MctB

https://www.omicsonline.org/steroid...renal-disorder-2161-0665.1000109.php?aid=4011

Very high bg, drinking, peeing, tiredness, those are strong indicators of dka, if you've got ketone testing strips, I reckon there's a fair chance those will show very high too, well out of nutrional ketosis.

Add the steroids into that along with the articles above, I'd be strongly inclined to not take any risks at all with this and jump into a taxi and go to A&E now.

DKA doesn't just get better or settle down - it kills. It almost killed me.

I'm not saying that to scare you, I'm saying it to drive home that this a potentially very serious situation. Better safe than sorry.
 
Have you got high glucose levels ?
 
Just called 111 for advice and on call duty dr calling me back so we shall see
 
I’m on 2000mg metformin sr and 8ui slow tealrase insulin not what I have said above
 
Hopefully you will not wait to long for the doctors call if it is to long you should really go to A&E
 
teddybear74 said:
My blood meter is flashing amber and says high no idea what the level is it’s a contour next machine I only have one test strip left
Click to expand...
That means it is above 33mmol/L which is a dangerous level
 
teddybear74 said:
Just called 111 for advice and on call duty dr calling me back so we shall see
Click to expand...

If the doc says, "oh, just wait and see if it settles down", don't get fobbed off with that.

I became T1 during my final exams, 30 yrs ago so couldn't google the symptoms, got taken to A&E in a very bad state, was dx'd with "exam stress" by a junior doctor, was sent home and got taken back the next morning unconscious in an ambulance with my parents being told that it was unlikely I would wake up. The junior doctor got a kicking from the senior endo for missing the most obvious case ever of dka.

The symptoms you are describing along with the steroids are sounding remarkably like steroid induced dka.

Don't let a doctor tell you to just wait and see, I'd be insisting on seeing an endo immediately. A&E and 111 docs don't cut it in these circumstances.
 
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