Can any of you recommend a good blood sugar monitor ? I have prediabeties and my reading was 6. I have been cutting out carbs and sugar as recommended by this forum ( thank you) but I have no idea if it is working until I have my next blood test next month. After reading various posts it seems as if I should be checking myself, is this right.
My symptoms have not changed , dry mouth, frequent bathroom visits and dry feet. I have lost 2lbs in weight but I had not gained weight since starting pred in March.
Thank you for your input
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Lacelady
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Hi there. I think there have been a number of posts covering this fairly recently a quick search should/might find them. A number of the supplier companies will provide you with a free one if you meet their criteria, which probably won't be a problem. I'm sure others will be along to give you more technical information. Peter
When you get a free offer - always ask the cost of the testing strips which can be expensive. They don't come on script on the NHS except for Type 1 diabetics on insulin for whom they are essential. The manufacturers make their money on the strips so offering the "free" device is to make you have to buy their strips as they aren't transferable to other devices.
Sorry should point out that I was diagnosed with prediabetes at the same time as PMR. I have since reduced my weight from 198lbs to 169lbs and I am out of the prediabetes range but still check my blood sugar, however only weekly now. I did this on a low carb diet averaging weight loss at 5 lbs. a month.
I started on 15mg Pred and am now down to 5mg Pred. Averaging roughly a reduction of 1.5 of Pred a month. During this period I still consistently lost weight.
It seems as though it depends on your postcode as to whether you get the strips on prescription or not there is a big difference from Doctor to Doctors.
No, just told to go on a low carb diet and loose some weight. I then went to see a specialist privately who said I should monitor my blood sugar morning and night for a month and gave me a fasting rate (when you wake up and before you have eaten or drunk anything) of 4.0 to 5.5 and two hours after dinner up to 7.8. He told me to buy a kit and test myself as directed. So I went back to my surgery and he wrote to them confirming his instructions to me and they gave me a prescription for the strips. I bought the tester, since then they have renewed the strip prescription twice more.
My HbA1c level was 6.4 when I had my bloods taken in April. In June I was tested again it was 5.8.
It’s OH with the diabetes - wouldn’t call it lucky if you see my reply to PMRpro.
You are right though different doctors won’t pay. We did a deal with GP when OH was first diagnosed (many years ago) because they also wanted him to check his BP at home. He’s not a well man. So we bought the BP machine and they supplied BS monitor and testing strips. They were very willing to supply strips if we bought the machine. Strange as the strips are the ongoing costs. We moved last year and new GP automatically replaced BS monitor when it grew tired.
Your bloods are the most reliable and what doctors prefer. I see you’re losing weight too - with all your effort I wouldn’t be surprised you’ll be out of the prediabetic zone next time you’re tested!
Should have explained OH’s diabetes isn’t straightforward. His first tested levels were 23. They manage him well but every year or so it goes off piste for no apparent reason. His diet is well managed. They’re always considering insulin (he’s type 2) but he has enough weight to contend with already and not mobile.
He’s currently on metformin and glyclazide but levels are still precarious so they’re always adjusting his meds.
It also rises rapidly when he gets sepsis (4 times last year). They talk about a weekly injection, not insulin, (can’t recall the name) but hasn’t been necessary yet. Hence he’s been told to check twice daily.
So for anyone threatened with diabetes it’s not straightforward once you are diagnosed and is why I said to Lacelady ‘if they want you to test’. Pred induced diabetes can be controlled well with diet alone- as Mrs Nails has proved. My friend had never been asked to check her levels. She is strict with her diet.
There isn't really any need to check BS in the same way as a diabetic does. Nor is a simple BS test diagnostic of any status as it only shows a momentary image, not ongoing. Pred makes your liver release random spikes of glucose from the body stores of glycogen in the muscles. If the one-off test is done close to one of those spikes it can be quite alarming. The device is cheap or even free - but the strips are relatively expensive and can't be prescribed in the UK unless you are a diabetic on insulin. Even patients with Type 2 diabetes don't always get them. It is the Hba1c test that shows how well controlled your BS is.
The figure of 6 you give - is that a result of a finger prick test or the Hba1c which is done with a proper venous blood sample? Only the Hba1c result is a valid indicator of whether pred is sending you in the direction of prediabetes. A value of 6% for the Hba1c test (sometimes reported as 42 mmol/mol) is normal, not pre-diabetes although it is the borderline. It is a reflection of the average blood sugar level over the last 8-12 weeks.
It was from a venous sample taken at the surgery. The Doctor rang and said it was 6 and that 6.5 was the borderline for type 2 diabetes she didn’t mention the Hba1c result.
I have read here that pred gives you spikes in your blood sugar so was just wondering if I need to keep a check but you seem to think it is unnecessary. I am quite happy with that suggestion.
I wouldn't, certainly not at present - I'd wait for my Hba1c result to be checked. Then see how you get on with diet - several on the forum got the level down just by diet, including MrsNails. And it will fall as you reduce the pred dose anyway.
I'm Type 2 and don't get testing strips on the NHS, so have no idea how well (or not) controlled my diabetes is. I have been treating it with diet and exercise (no meds) for years, but the diet and exercise has been slipping away these days!!!
I do know that Prednisolone spikes my Blood Glucose though.
Very likely - but the comparison needs always to be for the same person, not with others. Same applies to a lot of things - not least CRP and ESR! All indicators of a trend rather than absolute values.
I was diagnosed with high type2 diabetics, and put on metaformin but the virus kicked in everywhere, so nobody in surgery who delt with diabetics, so left to deal with it myself with diet. With 3 monthly blood checks I hope I’m winning, I’m now on 11mg of Pred.
It’s not good is it. If your diet is working and you feel okay, then well done you. Just get your bloods done timely. The surgery will soon be in touch if they have any queries re the results. They did that with me, I’m not diabetic, but one doctor thought it needed double checking. I did a fasting test and it came back normal.
Presume you’re tapering is going well. Just be mindful when you get lower and you reach the dose when your adrenals will be trying to kick in, (7.5 is what our body produces) as you might need to slow your reductions really down. I can only do a 0.5mg reduction. Am nearly on 8.5mg second time around.
We only moved here last November so I am not sure if they have a diabetic nurse and the surgery has been taken over by another larger one so everything is a bit confused. I never get the same doctor twice so using this forum I am managing my meds myself. Thank goodness for PMR/GCA uk and health unlocked .
I am going to see what my next results tell me before I do anything else. As the PRMpro says it might go down as I reduce my preds so it is a wait and see situation.
I have been going crazy with checking my sugar level! I have been on a strict no sugar, no carbs, (or very little), diet to try to lower my sugar. This in my opinion is the best way to try to control it, along with daily exercise! Prednisone does it’s own thing, which I hate! I am now only going to check it once a week. The real test is the A1c that the Dr. will give me.
You might find this "Reversing Type 2 Diabetes Support Group" facebook group useful. They publish lists of foods to eat and avoid and have a very direct attitude to answering queries. Also look at Jason Fung's writings and videos.....and Michael Moseley. I think others have answered your actual question but these contacts will help with your situation. My personal preference is the sense that Jason Fung speaks, but it is quite radical - too much so for some.
Just curious if anyone here has been put on Metformin medication? Prednisone's side effect kicked my blood sugar up into the pre-diabetic range and my rheumy put me on Metformin. I was leery but was very surprised that it took me out of being "pre-diabetic" on the chart (had ranged from 5.7 to 6.4 since 2017), down to 5.4 now.
I am not diabetic, but believe strongly in self testing. When I developed GCA and had to go on 60mg prednisone, I requested a prescription for Metformin, as in the afternoons I would test my blood and regularly have glucose levels in the pre-diabetic level before taking my first bite of food. Many gastric issues, but the Metformin got me through until I was down to 15mg prednisone, when I dropped it and now just control blood sugar with diet.
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