Steroid induced diebetes

[kiisromeo]

Hi everyone, I'm newbie , I was diagnosed a year ago with steriod induced diebetes . I have a deteriating immune disease ' sarcoidosis' which I was diagnosed with 2008 as life threatening after 5 years of intolerable symptoms and misdiagnosis of lymphoma cancer.

I've been on steroids for the last 8 years and given the multiple system systemic failure relating to sarcoid it was only a matter of time before diebetes was in the mix. Along with my mum being diabetic since 14.

I'm finding it really hard to work out what and how to control it.

I'm in metformin and another med but on my testing regularly my suger levers are still between 11 and 15.

I'm abit confused on when I should be testing for fasting , before eating and after eating. But on reading how metformin works I don't understand how it's not controlled.

I'm really worried cause with my sarcoid I already have a multitude of symptoms that are are at the top end of unmanaged including mimicking diabetic symptoms so I have no idea when or how to detect if I'm having hypos etc.

I barely eat much as it is with system reacting to food and causes alot of symptom escalation, I'm certain that the diebetes is another system failure from cell and nerve damage. As vit d is toxic for sarcoid, can't eat much dairy cause of high calcium , I get random deficiencies with b12 potassium etc

Is anyone else similar and how can I manage or check my levels correctly.

 

[JohnEGreen]

Hi kiisromeo welcome to the forum. I have been on steroids a long time also but for me it is for Myasthenia Gravis.
Metformin only reduces blood sugar by a relatively small amount steroids increase blood sugar so you have one working against the other steroids tend to win out in this contest.

You need to discuss this with your medical team.

As for testing I normally test on waking up in the morning before eating or drinking anything, then again two hours after a meal.

or if I wish to see what a particular food does to my BS I will test before eating that food and then maye be an hour after and then two hours.you of course will have specific food requirements relating to your condition so again you may need better advice than I can give.

I also find difficulty in managing both my conditions and would be totally at a loss if I did not test as symptoms can get confused.

There are many people on here that give good solid advice and there are many resources on site that may help you.

Good luck and best wishes

John

 

[Daibell]

Hi. Metformin will have little effect and can only really help with insulin resistance from excess weight due to steroids. I suspect for some/many insulin may be the only solution.