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Uncontrolled and waiting for an appointment - UPDATE pg3

Whenever I have been given any new tablets, meds, anti biotic and so on, I have to find out how they will effect me, I have intolerance to certain sugars, especially lactose, sucrose, and so on. So I must have meds that don't contain those ingredients. Or very limited to low percentage of whole.
Most meds contain such ingredients but there are alternatives, or I would be surprised that there isn't.
Pain meds are a pain! Sorry but they are! Only paracetamol in tablet form can I take.
Press your doctor or your specialist to find an alternative. Having mid teens high BG levels is not treatment.

Best wishes
 
Unfortunately, there is no alternative for the steroid - it is used to suppress my immune system. I have tried other immunosuppressants but they either haven’t worked or have caused worse health issues.

The effect of the steroid isn’t unique to me or a mystery. It’s established high blood sugar is a risk. Previously at low dose and withdrawal, it could be more controlled. But not at a higher dose.

The only thing that will bring the BG down now is stopping the steroids, (not possible without life threatening damage to blood vessels by the immune system) or introduction of medication to reduce the BG such as insulin, although it was mentioned something such as ozempic might work - this is all to be decided when I see the specialist for diabetes. I don’t have a date yet.

This is partly why I feel so overwhelmed and stressed as I’m doing my part (low carb) and it’s not working because of medication I don’t really have a choice in taking
 
Don't doubt that the low carb is not working, it is, you are using it, not to get mid twenties BG levels, if you didn't after the meds have raised it initially. So you are controlling your BG levels.
Keep battling. Have this discussion with your specialist.
keep safe
 
Yes, you’re probably right. I’m sure they would be much higher if not low carbing.

I’m not sure how long I’ll wait for the specialist appt but hopefully it’ll be soon.
 
IBEX82 said:
Yes, you’re probably right. I’m sure they would be much higher if not low carbing.

I’m not sure how long I’ll wait for the specialist appt but hopefully it’ll be soon.
Click to expand...
Don't forget, there are those on here, that will try and help regardless, whether physical or mental.
Keep positive
 
Lamont D said:
Don't forget, there are those on here, that will try and help regardless, whether physical or mental.
Keep positive
Click to expand...
You’ve been an immense help already - for sure making me put things in perspective.

I’m trying to get a GP appt to discuss the mental health too and I’ve now got a number from work for some counselling.

Just having a space to talk about things is good, I really appreciate all the advice and support.

Thank you
 
So it seems everything happens at once.. I got a call from the specialist diabetes service and the consultant has a telephone appt for me tomorrow and I have a GP appt tomorrow to discuss my mental health.

I’m hoping they don’t call at the same time. I do wish these were in person appointment but I’ll take what I can get.
 
Be ready for the questions, and have your information and symptoms wrote down. Your anxiety might close your thinking down. He willing to ask for further tests, and be honest with your mental health issues, GP's are used to having anxiety issues discussed over the phone. Be assertive and don't let your doctor for you off. You need help and he can and should help!
 
I have some prompts written down for the GP as I think I’ll struggle a bit to explain how I feel as you say with feeling anxious.

The specialist I’ve just noted down my recent sugars and times. I’ve jotted down the obvious spike from fasting (5-6) and 2-3 hours post steroid 10-16 with the bed time reading being back around 6-7. I’m not sure what else to mention to the diabetes specialist.

I appreciate the help though - I need to be strong and not just fall apart tomorrow.
 
If you read your opening post, that will do for a start.
The complicated conditions combined with symptoms should be enough to get your specialist interested.
 
Lamont D said:
If you read your opening post, that will do for a start.
The complicated conditions combined with symptoms should be enough to get your specialist interested.
Click to expand...
That’s great, thank you. He’s calling between 10am and 12 today so will update once I know more.
 
Just had my appointment with the diabetes specialist. He’s prescribed me once a day insulin to take the with my steroid and he’s also prescribed gliclazide twice daily. He wants to try to get the sugars under control quickly as he feels the double digits for the majority of the day are very damaging.

He’s prescribed everything but was unable to prescribe a CGM - will prescribe test strips and lancets. He will review me in two weeks. He also gave advice on hypos but he feels I shouldn’t have too many as the insulin he has prescribed will only last 12 hours and should be out my system by early evening.

The GP appointment was supposed to be at 9am but I hadn’t had a call and rang the reception to ask why. Apparently it wasn’t booked properly and I wasn’t on the list. No appts for today now so I have to call back on Tuesday and should be able to have a same day appt.

So many emotions right now.. overwhelmed and a bit scared but I’m sure it is all for the best.
 
It is great that you can monitor your BG levels, How you go about texting is now important. With T2, the testing it should be around meals, did your specialist mention dietary recommendations?
Next you need to keep a food diary and record your BG levels, record what you eat, your daily routine and anything else you consider important including when you take your meds and insulin.
Any tests in the offering or blood panel?
Your specialist wants to see you in a fortnight, that means he is concerned about the complicated issues, you could be something he hasn't seen something like your dilemma. And he may need more time to consult other specialists.
I know it's hard but relax through the next couple of weeks. And try not to be too anxious.

First and second step done, keep learning, keep safe
 
For testing, he recommended my current schedule was fine so that’s am, two hours after meds, before meals and two hours after meals, then before bed. He did obviously recommend testing if I notice any new symptoms or any signs of a hypo.

Went over my average weekly diet. He noted it was quite low on carbs which he said is usually fine but that would need to be careful in the first few weeks as the insulin dose might be too high for my carb level but we won’t know until we try - he did say if it was case, he would lower my insulin a little and not tell me to eat more carbs which I thought was a revelation as in the past when I had just gliclazide I had a practice nurse telling me to eat more carbs to keep my blood sugar up - not take less medication.

He didn’t request any bloods as full blood panel was done only a couple of weeks ago. He did say he thought the steroid was the main culprit and that he could see when the steroids were much lower, I had better control with diet.

He said with what he’s prescribed and my diet, he would hope to see a big reduction in my HbA1c within 6-8 weeks but full picture would be three months.

He said he’d prefer to see me in 2 weeks as my day time numbers were high and as I’d never had insulin before, he wasn’t sure if I’d need a few adjustments to get the dosage right for the steroids and the lower carb diet.

The GP appointment for my mental health wasn’t as successful since it wasn’t booked properly and I need to call them again on Tuesday to book another one.
 
My husband used to eat and inject in his car I made him a rather big lunch box with sandwiches crisps and a chocolate bar of some kind for when his sugar levels were stupidly low, like when he worked almost a double shift before coming home, I phoned the bakery to ask if he remembered where he lived & knew what time it was! As he had had a transplant due to his diabetes
and a few times he had passed out on the car park nobody noticed
 
I’m sorry to hear about your husband. I will be careful with the insulin
 
I hope your husband is Type 1?

@IBEX82 is Type two and shouldn't go anywhere that butty box. Ha!
 
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