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High blood sugar query

V

Viclayzee

Newbie
Messages
4
Type of diabetes
Family member
Treatment type
I do not have diabetes
Hi there
I've found this forum whilst looking for some advice about my Dad. He has secondary cancer and is still at home but am worried as his blood sugar levels seem high. He is on steroids (dexamethasone 3xdaily) and has not been diagnosed with db but the level is 24.5 and he can't face eating anything. He has had a large glass of rum n coke and I've just taken a second one off him. He has agreed the levels are high but won't let me seek medical advice. He has eaten very little today - bowl of cereal about 11am, small prawn cocktail about 4pm and a mouthful of pork steak and a chip at 7pm. He seems to be drinking milk excessively and milky coffee and I wonder how I can get the levels down? He has gone to bed cause he says he's tired and has now got some water to drink.
Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Vicky
 
High sugars will make him thirsty so that could be why he is drinking so much. Steroids can affect blood sugars making them difficult to bring down. High sugars will make him feel sick and god love him he must be feeling poorly anyway.
The care package he is on should include care of his diabetes I would have thought? Can you not get in touch with his GP / Macmillan nurse to see if he can be given help with this?

I hope you get the help you need.
Mrs Vimes xx


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Thank you Mrs Vimes.

He's happy to have the water tonight and we'll re-test the sugar levels again in the morning. If it hasn't gone down by then we'll contact the Macmillan nurse for advice. He's adamant we're not to seek medical advice at the moment and I don't feel it's an emergency to override his wishes but wondered if there was anything he could eat to lower the levels. He can't be tempted with anything at the moment.

Thanks again
Vicky
 
Eating probably won't lower his sugars. Blood sugars of 24 - he may have ketones that are making him feel rotten.
Try and keep him away from sugary drinks or food as this will just get worse. Is he on insulin? If he was I would say take a corrective dose? If he's on tablets then that won't work.
Do you have an emergency contact number to get in touch with his care team?
You are stuck between a rock and a very hard place but he is probably sick of dealing with medical staff.
My dad was never a good patient and cobby to boot so I feel for you.


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I would follow the advice this thread but also look into ketogenic diet both as a way to control high bg and possibly also a way to control cancer. At least slow it down. Cancer cells thrive on glucose.

Basically, if your dad likes fatty foods that aren't high in carbs yours and his life might get easier for a while.
 
The blood sugar monitor stated Hi ketones when we tested. He's not diabetic though has been admitted with this once before when he was going for radiotherapy for the tumour. He got to hospital and was very thirsty so they checked him straight away and put him on a drip to lower the levels. He seems to have settled in bed now and is watching tv and has agreed to have his bs checked in the morning and if there's no change for me to contact the mac' nurse.
Thanks
 
Thanks Totto.
He does like fatty foods so will look into the ketogenic diet.
 
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