Thank you. Diabetes because of lung meds.

Thank you all so much for the response you gave me. I did not known that you could get diabetes through certain meds in particular my lung meds. They told me whilst in critical care in 2019 they were treating me with insulin because of the meds they were treating me with during my stay at CC. 1 year on a doc says I am diabetic. Cut to the short version on metaformin 500 upto 1000 bloods showing 99 Hb1a whatever the short version is, yes 99 is correct. Went on high like that until 1 diabetic nurse said" oh yes Annie you need quick acting meds because of my steriods I'm only on 7.5 maintenance dose a day, but have been on Prednisolone for 4 years 40, 35 yes you get it.

Now on Metaformin 1000 Gliclazide 80 and Trulicity 1.5 once a week now with some slight diet changes I can now proudly say I am 5.7 when I wake when I go to sleep roughly 12 - 15 which is a big improvement, still room for improvement, could do better is what my school card use to say back in the day.

Thank you all for your help.🌈🌈😁

[Bkin]

Steroid induced diabetes, is what happened to me after pneumonia and prednisolone, its the oral steroids that cause the blood glucose to get out of control (not the inhaled steroids)

99 HBa1C certainly needs bringing down, on metformin 500mg twice daily brought my HbA1c down from 98 to 62 in 3 months, I made sure I did regularly exercise and reduced carbs in the diet as well both also very important in helping to bring the blood glucose down.

You say you are 5.7 currently but before bed 12-15 I assume this is your finger prick measurement not the HbA1c. I can say that your glucose level at 5.7 is good on rising before food, but still not controlled if it is at 12-15 mmol before bed.

Ideally the situation is (with the finger prick test) say if 5.7 before food on rising, two hours after food controlled levels should not exceed 3 mmol so from 5.7 to 8.7 would be maximum level of ok.

I am having trouble myself at the moment, probably because I am still indulging in the panettone. when my finger prick level rise to 10mmol or above I get very sleepy, this is an indication of the glucose levels being high.

But keep going with the metformin and diet adjustments and I am sure you will get there in the end.

Always be careful when on prednisolone as it will raise the blood glucose levels, I do find though just by doing 10-20 mins exercise it can reduce the level by 2-3 mmol, worth knowing when levels have gone over 15 or 20mmol.

Take good care.

[Hidden in reply to Bkin]

Thanks for your response. I agree 12-15 is still high need to do a bit more work on the diet. New to Glizide in my second month. Diabetes nurse said she will test me in 3 months re bloods she is happy that at times I even peak 21 at times, considering where I was. I have or had no symptoms re diabetes so it came as a surprise. Going off now to do some sewing.

Take care thanks Annie 🌈🌈

[madonbrew in reply to Hidden]

Hi Annie, I have a random autoimmune disease that’s caused my diabetes but prednisolone makes it go crazy. I’m now fully insulin dependent. Every now and then even on insulin my prick test is 18 so it sounds like you are doing well being on just gliclizide. 😊

It’s definitely tricky with the Christmas food still around to be eaten. Don’t beat yourself up!! It takes a bit of time getting your head around!!!

Dee 😊