Hydrocortisone for adrenal failure giving High BMs.

C

ClairedeMort

Member
Messages
12
I’m new to all of these in my 3rd month.

Diagnosed with Addison’s and started on physiology replacement dose hydrocortisone worked out at 0.3mg/kg. (BMI 21. Early morning cortisol 39. Pre diagnosis BM 2-4. HBa1C 34.)

Since starting the hydrocortisone I’ve felt rubbish in the afternoon/evenings which I thought was because I hadn’t taken enough HC and was getting hypos. But
Found that my BM are 8.7.

My pre HC fasted BMs 3-5 at 0550hr.

I already have a low carb diet, low BMI, don’t eat sugars, vegan and exercise.

Yesterday I decided to get a grip. Took my usual 0500hr 5mg HC. BM 4.3. Ate porridge with water and seeds with pre training 2.5mg HC. (I shouldn’t take 7.5mg HC by 1200hrs) By 1015hrs BM was 6.2. (Proving something to myself) i did about 1000watts exercise and BM dropped only
to 6.1.

Utterly rubbish today. 1200hr BM 7.4

Just help.

Reading up the tablets of T2DM are all long acting which would mean that I will have hypos over night /first things.

Not taking the HC is dangerous as in death as my natural cortisol production is so low. Missing a dose or taking it late has me wilting, stopping still, can’t talk/move. Late lunch and a bit of stress out me in adrenal crisis.

High BMs have me irritable, bitingly short tempered and itchy.

What’s your experience?
How are you managing this?
 
DCUKMod

DCUKMod

Master
Staff Member
Messages
14,298
Type of diabetes
I reversed my Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
ClairedeMort said:
I’m new to all of these in my 3rd month.

Diagnosed with Addison’s and started on physiology replacement dose hydrocortisone worked out at 0.3mg/kg. (BMI 21. Early morning cortisol 39. Pre diagnosis BM 2-4. HBa1C 34.)

Since starting the hydrocortisone I’ve felt rubbish in the afternoon/evenings which I thought was because I hadn’t taken enough HC and was getting hypos. But
Found that my BM are 8.7.

My pre HC fasted BMs 3-5 at 0550hr.

I already have a low carb diet, low BMI, don’t eat sugars, vegan and exercise.

Yesterday I decided to get a grip. Took my usual 0500hr 5mg HC. BM 4.3. Ate porridge with water and seeds with pre training 2.5mg HC. (I shouldn’t take 7.5mg HC by 1200hrs) By 1015hrs BM was 6.2. (Proving something to myself) i did about 1000watts exercise and BM dropped only
to 6.1.

Utterly rubbish today. 1200hr BM 7.4

Just help.

Reading up the tablets of T2DM are all long acting which would mean that I will have hypos over night /first things.

Not taking the HC is dangerous as in death as my natural cortisol production is so low. Missing a dose or taking it late has me wilting, stopping still, can’t talk/move. Late lunch and a bit of stress out me in adrenal crisis.

High BMs have me irritable, bitingly short tempered and itchy.

What’s your experience?
How are you managing this?
Click to expand...

Clairedemort - how were you diagnosed with your Addison's? Was it a 24hr urine collection, plus a synacthen stimulation test, or was it a 4-point saliva test, plus synacthen stimulation test?

Cortisol works on a pretty profoundly circadian rythmn, and it is possible to have adequate or excessive cortisol at varying times during the day, which all add up to "normal" if the 24-hr urine test is used.

Is your HC dosed to try to reflect that rythmn?

I'm pleased to say I don't have Addison's, but when it was on the table at one stage as a possible, I didn't fancy iut much at all! It seems to be like so many endocrine disorders, in that it can take time to get meds<>body<>living in a balance, so it is important you stick close to your team during this period (and beyond).

Do you have any thyroid problems, alongside this at all?
 
Top Bottom