I’m confused and worried.

[Piggy 2]

For two and a half years I’ve been having skin infections which has been investigated for the past year. Three and a half months ago my gp said she wanted to do a fasting glucose. Which I did, it came back high. Hpa normal so advised it’s most likely a lab error and repeat. Again repeat was high glucose, normal HPA. Repeat again. Results on Wednesday were 7 on a fasting glucose and either 35 or 38 on the hpa. I can’t quite remember. I was actually having an ulcer dressing done at the time but nurse said not to worry
I am on preds for the ulcers which I believe are sending me a bit dolally. Preds are set to continue for at least another 9 weeks possibly longer on a tapered dose. My friend is a type 1 diabetic and she tested my sugars yesterday whilst she was here. 6.5 before eating. 11.9 two hours after eating. She is concerned the steroids are sending my sugars high. I cannot test my own as a) I don’t know what’s normal and b) I don’t have a kit to test with. I have an app with the gp for Tuesday but wondering how I can help myself in the meantime.
I’m a normal size 12 - 14, female, walk dogs daily, muck out horses daily etc. I am active.
There is diabetes in my family but I only know maternal side.
Today I feel odd. Very thirsty, tingly and almost like I’m buzzing. I’m also knackered.
Can you offer any advice please till Tuesday? Am I being a drama queen? You can say so I won’t take offence.
Please treat me like a total diabetes idiot as my knowledge is poor.
Thank you for reading. L

 

[urbanracer]

For two and a half years I’ve been having skin infections which has been investigated for the past year. Three and a half months ago my gp said she wanted to do a fasting glucose. Which I did, it came back high. Hpa normal so advised it’s most likely a lab error and repeat. Again repeat was high glucose, normal HPA. Repeat again. Results on Wednesday were 7 on a fasting glucose and either 35 or 38 on the hpa. I can’t quite remember. I was actually having an ulcer dressing done at the time but nurse said not to worry
I am on preds for the ulcers which I believe are sending me a bit dolally. Preds are set to continue for at least another 9 weeks possibly longer on a tapered dose. My friend is a type 1 diabetic and she tested my sugars yesterday whilst she was here. 6.5 before eating. 11.9 two hours after eating. She is concerned the steroids are sending my sugars high. I cannot test my own as a) I don’t know what’s normal and b) I don’t have a kit to test with. I have an app with the gp for Tuesday but wondering how I can help myself in the meantime.
I’m a normal size 12 - 14, female, walk dogs daily, muck out horses daily etc. I am active.
There is diabetes in my family but I only know maternal side.
Today I feel odd. Very thirsty, tingly and almost like I’m buzzing. I’m also knackered.
Can you offer any advice please till Tuesday? Am I being a drama queen? You can say so I won’t take offence.
Please treat me like a total diabetes idiot as my knowledge is poor.
Thank you for reading. L

Welcome to the forums @Piggy2 ,

It is true that steroids will raise the blood glucose levels but your 11.9 reading is too high and if this has been happening for a while it could be contributing to your other issues. Thirst, fuzzy head and tiredness can be symptoms of diabetes but could equally be related to other things - we can't really diagnose you over the internet.

Until you talk to the doctor, reduce your intake of carbohydrates - (rice, potato, bread and pasta are the real bad boys for people with high blood glucose) because all carbs turn into glucose once in the body. In the short term there is plenty of scope to eat other stuff like eggs, salads, meat and dairy products.

Hope you get this sorted.

Best wishes,
Urb'

EDITED:-
This page gives youi an idea of idealised blood glucose levels for diabetics and non-diabetics.
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_care/blood-sugar-level-ranges.html

 

[JoKalsbeek]

For two and a half years I’ve been having skin infections which has been investigated for the past year. Three and a half months ago my gp said she wanted to do a fasting glucose. Which I did, it came back high. Hpa normal so advised it’s most likely a lab error and repeat. Again repeat was high glucose, normal HPA. Repeat again. Results on Wednesday were 7 on a fasting glucose and either 35 or 38 on the hpa. I can’t quite remember. I was actually having an ulcer dressing done at the time but nurse said not to worry
I am on preds for the ulcers which I believe are sending me a bit dolally. Preds are set to continue for at least another 9 weeks possibly longer on a tapered dose. My friend is a type 1 diabetic and she tested my sugars yesterday whilst she was here. 6.5 before eating. 11.9 two hours after eating. She is concerned the steroids are sending my sugars high. I cannot test my own as a) I don’t know what’s normal and b) I don’t have a kit to test with. I have an app with the gp for Tuesday but wondering how I can help myself in the meantime.
I’m a normal size 12 - 14, female, walk dogs daily, muck out horses daily etc. I am active.
There is diabetes in my family but I only know maternal side.
Today I feel odd. Very thirsty, tingly and almost like I’m buzzing. I’m also knackered.
Can you offer any advice please till Tuesday? Am I being a drama queen? You can say so I won’t take offence.
Please treat me like a total diabetes idiot as my knowledge is poor.
Thank you for reading. L

I don't have definitive answers for you, I'm afraid. Prednisone can send your bloodsugar up some, but you're taking it for a condition a lot of diabetics are prone to... So it's a bit of a chicken/egg thing. Personally, I'd say get yourself a meter, and check before meals and 2 hours after first bite. If the bloodsugars go up more than 2 mmol/l, you may have a problem. Non-diabetics should be within, I think, 4.5 and 8.5, off the top of my head. (Otherwise someone'll correct me soon). The 11.9 may be a blip, but if your HbA1c was high before starting pred, well... Just err on the side of caution. You don't have to be morbidly obese to be a type 2 after all, no matter what the media says... I did have skin problems like yours for years while I was an undiagnosed diabetic, (usually treated with an antibiotic or predisone salve) but once I got my bloodsugar under control with a low carb/high fat diet, they didn't return. I'm currently med-free and diet-controlled, so it's not a doom & gloom scenario per se. If you are diabetic, it can be controlled, and it doesn't have to be the progressive disease it once was. So breathe. You're not alone, whatever the outcome.