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Steroids

fred1234

fred1234

Well-Known Member
Messages
118
Location
Edinburgh
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi
Type2 novomix30 8 units injected at lunch time. B.s.normally on fasting in the 5s, fine after breakfast of porridge, then take inhaled steroids and 20mg maintenance dose of prednisone and by lunch time b.s. spiked. This is when I inject my insulin. For lunch to try to keep b.s. down I just have yoghurt and piece of fruit but still high in the 9s and 10s at teatime. B.s. start to come down and they're at respectable level by early evening and bedtime, although have a snack before bed as terrified of typos, but as I say on awakening normally in the 5s.. also experiencing recurrent utis

Am I eating enough at lunch time?
How do I get b.s.to go back down quicker?
worried about long term diabetes with constantly raised b.s. during the day
anyone got any experience or hints, tips etc that would help
 
Hi. Steroids are always aproblem for blood sugar. Your diet may not be ideal. Porridge is known for spiking (have cold oats as in muesli to reduce the spike). Is the yogurt no-added sugar? Do keep to a low-carb diet. It may be your insulin regime needs changing. Once a day insulin mix is a help for T2 but not the best regime if it's not controlling your blood sugar. If you are concerned which you are do discuss a change to twice a day mixed insulin or even Basal/Bolus. It would involve more injections but would give better control.
 
fred1234 said:
Hi
Type2 novomix30 8 units injected at lunch time. B.s.normally on fasting in the 5s, fine after breakfast of porridge, then take inhaled steroids and 20mg maintenance dose of prednisone and by lunch time b.s. spiked. This is when I inject my insulin. For lunch to try to keep b.s. down I just have yoghurt and piece of fruit but still high in the 9s and 10s at teatime. B.s. start to come down and they're at respectable level by early evening and bedtime, although have a snack before bed as terrified of typos, but as I say on awakening normally in the 5s.. also experiencing recurrent utis

Am I eating enough at lunch time?
How do I get b.s.to go back down quicker?
worried about long term diabetes with constantly raised b.s. during the day
anyone got any experience or hints, tips etc that would help
Click to expand...
As the mix does not give 24 hour cover it's hardly surprising you have high numbers. The mix is meant to be taken morning and evening. The morning dose would then hopefully counteract the breakfast and the steroid dose. Consider a low carb lunch as well to help things out.
The idea of insulin is to counteract the highs rather than playing catch up.
 
I am on Pred 11 mg daily, reducing from 25mg in January. I have been on a low carb diet since then. I have not put any weight on and my blood sugars are ok. I do not eat bread, potatoes, rice or pasta. Only regular carbs are bran flakes for breakfast. You also have to be careful of fruit as most are high in sugar, which is a carb. I was on pred 15 years ago for several months and that caused me to become diabetic. I am on Novomix and before going back on steroids, I needed between 15 and 20mg at every meal. I now use the same amount but my HbA1c is 55 mmol/mol. I have also lost 1/2 a stone :)
Being on the low carb diet is a bit difficult, but if I don't eat the main carbs I find I don't need them. On the other hand, if I eat one slice of bread then I crave it and end up with eating more and getting colic. Better to not eat the main carbs at all and keep saying to yourself that it will be OK
Hope this helps
 
Daibell said:
Hi. Steroids are always aproblem for blood sugar. Your diet may not be ideal. Porridge is known for spiking (have cold oats as in muesli to reduce the spike). Is the yogurt no-added sugar? Do keep to a low-carb diet. It may be your insulin regime needs changing. Once a day insulin mix is a help for T2 but not the best regime if it's not controlling your blood sugar. If you are concerned which you are do discuss a change to twice a day mixed insulin or even Basal/Bolus. It would involve more injections but would give better control.
Click to expand...
Hi DAibelle
many thanks for your tips and hints. I was on novomix30 twice daily..b.s. we're high then but lost 3stone and since then my steroid usage has bedn increased due to medical problem but as I have came down to my normal maintenance dose my insulin has been reduced. I used to take in mornings before brekkie but even after eating bloods dropped very quickly and dsn suggested lunch time to inject insulin.Try very hard to keep to low carbs, but I do miss a bit bread. Guilty!!! Of cheating.
Am 5.2 pot of ready made porridge...2hrs later 6.0
don't find it spikes my blood
Lunch 9.2 (having taken preds after brekkie) fat free yogurt and small banana
Tea 10.3...no snacks in between
This basal and bolus regime don't think I would be able to do that regime...sounds extremely complicated.
Before bed readings are normally 7,s or very seldom 8s
 
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