I am low in Pred tapering between 1.25/0.625. My bloods are fine, taking them once a month, but my GP is concerned with the low level of glucose in my blood. Could it be due to low adrenal function? Anybody who knows anything about this?
Often you tend to have high glucose due to long Pred treatment...
Hello. By what test exactly did your doc decide your blood sugar was too low? What kind of diet are you on?
It was from a series of glucose blood test. I am on a diet with low sugar and low fast carbs. It is not a kind of extreme diet, more like a personal wish to keep the carbs down.
Do you know your readings? It would be useful to find out if you do not know. Do you have diabetes as the medication can cause low blood sugar particularly if you are on insulin? If you do not have diabetes hypoglycaemia can be a forerunner. You could try eating fast acting carbs to push it up. Have you been missing meals or been exercising more than usual? Has your doctor given you any tablets? Have you had any symptoms such as dizziness, palpitations, nervousness......??
This was a test taken after breakfast and it was 3.3 mmol/litre. I don’t know if you have the same way of measuring.
I don’t have diabetes or any other medication. I have always had bit swings in blood sugar but this is the firat time that my bloods have been a bit low. Not dangerously low but still a bit strange.
If your doctor has not given any medication or any advice I assume he is not too worried.
No, I guess not.
Just keep an eye out for symptoms of nondiabetic hypoglycemia... My sister and her daughter are terrible if they need food.
"What are the signs and symptoms of non-diabetic hypoglycemia?
Blurred vision or changes in vision.
Dizziness, lightheadedness, or shakiness.
Fatigue and weakness.
Fast or pounding heartbeat.
Sweating more than usual.
Headache.
Nausea or hunger.
Anxiety, Irritability, or confusion."
drugs.com/cg/non-diabetic-h...
Otherwise I wouldn't worry too much unless it's a trend.
It helps to know the glucose / blood sugar tests and results , did the GP also check any other things like Electrolytes / Iron / Folic Acid and B Vitamins as well?
Was the glucose result a one off which could have been affected by when it was taken or fasting?
Do you take Vitamin D ?
The added Fatigue and reduced Carbs may mean you need an increase in Calories and Slow Carbs or Low G.I carbs for a short time. Even things like Winter weather and extra Energy needs from activity in cold or heat can increase your personal needs for many different nutrients at this time of year. You may not be on a extreme diet but it may have become too small for your individual needs at the moment.
We did both fasting test and after breakfast. It was the test after breakfast that was a bit low. I don’t take d-vitamins. There were no other tests done right now. I will take another test next month.
Low blood sugar is found in secondary adrenal insufficiency which is what we may develop when getting to lower levels of pred. Has the GP not done a synacthen test to assess the potential for adequate adrenal function? You can get really meaningful results below about 3mg/day pred.
I don’t even think that my GP connects this issue with my long term treatment of Pred. I had a synacthen test in octobre but I was higher in dose then. It was normal.
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