New Diabetic

[CiContention]

Hi all, new to the site. :)

Was just diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes two weeks ago, and I have been working with a diabetic educator basically day in and out since that point. For a while we seemed to get my blood sugars in a consistent and comfortable range (for about 3 days after I was released from the hospital, I was in the 125-200 range almost all of the time), but since then a steroid had been added as a short term medication to stop the progression of autoimmune hepatitis, which is the reason I am diabetic.

The idea is essentially to stop my body from killing off other organs so I can go on to lead a healthy, normal life. However! Since that time (about a week and a half ago), my blood sugars have been higher. My doctor told me this would happen as a result of the steroid (they started out at 370, and have no seemed to drop into the consistently 280 range).

I have been told by the diabetic educator and doctor that I should expect the sugars to be consistent, but high, for the duration of the steroid (10-12 weeks). My concern is that being at 250-300 for 10-12 weeks may lead to complications, but they seem to dismiss this.

I pressed the issue originally, to little avail, and so made the decision to take a more aggressive approach with my insulin for food in-take on my own, which they now support. I don't want to do that again as I am already being very aggressive with the insulin, but after reading about long-term high effects, I fear I should press the issue once more.

What do you think?

[4519]

Complications usually are a long term situation. Yes, being high for any length of time is not good, but, you are under more extensive treatment for very serious situations. You might just have to hang in there until you can control them. You should push the situation, if not just to keep that point in their face. Your relationship with your doctors might require you being knowledgable and show them that you are more than just interested in you treatment - be proactive. I don't think anybody can really give you good advice when you have these complicated problems right now. Do as you are - learn as much as you can and question authority is part of that. Just do it wisely and don't push away good medical advice or help.

welcom to the forum.

[SueM]

If you are on steroids for that length of time you need to increase your long acting/basal insulin and also adjust with the quick acting as needed at meal times.
As a matter of interest how much steroid are you on and what sort?
You really need to ask your educator point blank how much to increase your basal by.
I take steroids every day so know what my own requirements are but if i end up having a steroid injection into my joints for any reason I have to double my insulin untill the steroid wears off.
Most importantly though when/if you make any changes in your dosage test test and test.

[CiContention]

If you are on steroids for that length of time you need to increase your long acting/basal insulin and also adjust with the quick acting as needed at meal times.
As a matter of interest how much steroid are you on and what sort?
You really need to ask your educator point blank how much to increase your basal by.
I take steroids every day so know what my own requirements are but if i end up having a steroid injection into my joints for any reason I have to double my insulin untill the steroid wears off.
Most importantly though when/if you make any changes in your dosage test test and test.

Prednisone, 4 tablets of 10 MG each once in the morning. They upped my levemir from a starting point of simply 20 overnight to 50 at night and 30 in the morning. The results have been about that, that they were before the steroid: consistent. They're just consistently high right now. I'll continue tinkering.

[Nejeda]

I was always informed that as long as you are working closely with your doctors, you should be just fine. On that same note, bring up your concerns with your doctors, and if they really don't see them as concerns try to make them understand how you feel. You are a new diabetic and want to start out right, I assume... I'm sure they would understand that.



BTW... hi :wavey:

[poodlebone]

High blood sugars over a lifetime are not good. For a matter of weeks it probably won't have any effect. I had no insurance for the first 11 years after diagnosis (I was dx at age 19) and did not check my BG and stayed on the same dosage of two shots of NPH/R a day. I took a mix of NPH + regular in the morning and more NPH at night. For 11 years. I know at times my BG was running sky high because I couldn't stop drinking, couldn't stop peeing and had fruity ketone breath often.

Luckily, 19 years after diagnosis I have no complications. I got lucky but don't plan on living that way ever again if I can help it.

So, I think it's great that you're being very aggressive but don't freak out if you aren't able to get into a normal range and stay there. Deal with one thing at a time, and right now you've got hepatitis as well as diabetes to think about.

[Jan2306]

Welcome. By the time I was diagnosed my A1c was 16.3 and they think I was walking around with diabetes for a least a year, maybe two with numbers in the 400-600 range. But I was told that as long as I keep my numbers under tight control, I should be able to live a life free of complications despite being so high for that period of time. I choose to believe them.

[SueM]

Prednisone, 4 tablets of 10 MG each once in the morning. They upped my levemir from a starting point of simply 20 overnight to 50 at night and 30 in the morning. The results have been about that, that they were before the steroid: consistent. They're just consistently high right now. I'll continue tinkering.

Just a small tip for you split the pred dose tak 1/2 in the morning when you get up and the other 1/2 at lunch time or just after lunch. You wont get the massive high peeks that way.
Don't take steroids in the evening because they will affect your sleep.
After a while you will be tappered down from the pred and can then gradually decrease your insulin as numbers dictate.
You need to come off the steroids slowly because other wise you will end up with a crisses, IE your adrenal glands will have 40 fits :frown: Rule of thumb is normally 2 units of insulin for every 1mg of pred.
Hope this helps you a bit.

[A.Z.]

nice to hear this, I only hit 200 once cuz I forgot to take my medication lol

[Cyborg]

Welcome aboard :itsme:

[BriOnH]

Prednisone, 4 tablets of 10 MG each once in the morning. They upped my levemir from a starting point of simply 20 overnight to 50 at night and 30 in the morning. The results have been about that, that they were before the steroid: consistent. They're just consistently high right now. I'll continue tinkering.

Prednisone is nasty stuff, but the benefits eventually out weigh the short term side effects. Have you gotten the "moon face"? How have your moods been? I was on 100mg / day when I was 14 for unrelated (non-diabetic) kidney problems, and had to take over 4x my usual dose of insulin while on it. I remember my mom drawing up the syringe once and couldn't believe the amount that had to be given.
-B

[CiContention]

Just a small tip for you split the pred dose tak 1/2 in the morning when you get up and the other 1/2 at lunch time or just after lunch. You wont get the massive high peeks that way.
Don't take steroids in the evening because they will affect your sleep.
After a while you will be tappered down from the pred and can then gradually decrease your insulin as numbers dictate.
You need to come off the steroids slowly because other wise you will end up with a crisses, IE your adrenal glands will have 40 fits :frown: Rule of thumb is normally 2 units of insulin for every 1mg of pred.
Hope this helps you a bit.

I was actually doing that, but prefer to take it all in the morning so that it doesn't effect the rest of my day.

[CiContention]

Prednisone is nasty stuff, but the benefits eventually out weigh the short term side effects. Have you gotten the "moon face"? How have your moods been? I was on 100mg / day when I was 14 for unrelated (non-diabetic) kidney problems, and had to take over 4x my usual dose of insulin while on it. I remember my mom drawing up the syringe once and couldn't believe the amount that had to be given.
-B

A bit grouchy at times, but some would say I'm that way anyways :-P

What is the moon face?

[SueM]

A bit grouchy at times, but some would say I'm that way anyways :-P

What is the moon face?
A moon face is when your face takes on an oval look which means you are cushionoid sp! IE to much steroids being taken.
People can get a disease called cushings which is basicly to much steroid produced by their own body. If you take steroids for a long time and to much you develope the same symptoms.
This wont happen unless you are on a high dose for quite a long time 40mg is not that excessive for the amount of time you will be on it.

[am1977]

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis- But do know that there are a lot of helpful supportive people here... stick around and get to know us!:wavey: