[Diana]

So I was sick during the entire weekend....coughing, sneezing, headache, earache, runny nose....yuck! Finally today I decided to go to the 24 hr care and the doctor diagnosed a sinus infection and gave me a shot of Decadron (a steroid) and Rocephin (antibiotic), plus a prescription for cough syrup and Bactrim. I had mentioned the diabetes and he asked how my sugar was today....113 at 6am and 89 at noon. I ate an apple (large one) with peanut butter before I decided to to in. I got home and laid down and when I tested at 4pm it was 147. I was thinking it was the apple and pb....I ate some meat with broccoli. almost 3 hrs later it was 184!!!

Info I found shows it must be the Decadron. Since I found that I've been walking in place and drinking water like crazy, but I don't know if it will help. Can't go out side because of heat & humidity.

Does this happen to anyone else who has to take medication other than your diabetes meds? I'm worried about interactions. Tomorrow I have to call the Enbrel hotline to find out if I'm supposed to stop taking it until the infection is gone. God, I'm a mess! and trying to cooordinate all of this without a regular doctor who I see all the time is scary. I wonder if he could have given me something that didn't raise my blood sugar? I'm just hoping it's down in about an hour and not up higher.

 

[Shanny]

If you need a steroid (and you prob'ly DO), he didn't have much choice. And steroids do not make our meters very happy at all. I won't swear to it, but I kinda think even the few drops of steroid eyedrops I need for a month after cataract surgery may have played some havoc with my levels.

So sorry for your illness! Never had a sinus infection & hope I can avoid for the rest of my years too! Darn!

 

[Diana]

If you need a steroid (and you prob'ly DO), he didn't have much choice. And steroids do not make our meters very happy at all. I won't swear to it, but I kinda think even the few drops of steroid eyedrops I need for a month after cataract surgery may have played some havoc with my levels.

So sorry for your illness! Never had a sinus infection & hope I can avoid for the rest of my years too! Darn!

ok now I'm really scared....just took my bs and it's 267. I don't know what to do. When is it a crisis? I guess I'll have to call the urgent care center and see if they can suggest something. I don't want to have a stroke or something tonight I just feel that the doctor could have tried the antibiotic first without doing the steroid. crap!!

I found this statement: "Call a doctor immediately if you are vomiting and cannot keep down liquids and:

Your blood sugar is 300 mg/dL or higher." I'm wondering if I should take my second Metormin dose....seems logical, doesn't it?

 

[Diana]

ok now I'm really scared....just took my bs and it's 267. I don't know what to do. When is it a crisis? I guess I'll have to call the urgent care center and see if they can suggest something. I don't want to have a stroke or something tonight I just feel that the doctor could have tried the antibiotic first without doing the steroid. crap!!

I found this statement: "Call a doctor immediately if you are vomiting and cannot keep down liquids and:

Your blood sugar is 300 mg/dL or higher." I'm wondering if I should take my second Metormin dose....seems logical, doesn't it?

I'm on the phone now waiting for the on call doctor to tell me if I should take the Metformin and see if it brings my sugar down.

 

[Diana]

this doctor (not the same one) said to take my second metformin and check my blood sugar in the morning.....jeez!

I wish I had found this page about sick days before I went to the doctor today. I might help someone else who is new to all this like me. Goodnight for now....I probably won't sleep much since I can't get rid of this headache, plus I will want to check in a few hours (maybe 1 hour?) to see if it's working. I have no idea how long it takes for metformin to do its job.

 

[MinisMom]

Hi Diana; My doctor warned me that the steroid shot would run my sugars up, but she said it should not last for more than 24 hours or so. Mine were running in the 300's for a little over 24 hours, then slowly started coming down. Not to mention that the steroid shot I got felt like they used a drinking stray to inject it with. OUCH!!!!

Just try to stay calm, getting yourself stressed out will only make your readings higher.

Plus remember that some diabetics will get higher readings anytime their sick, whether it's a cold or just not feeling good in general.

Chin Up.....it will get better.

 

[Diana]

Hi Diana; My doctor warned me that the steroid shot would run my sugars up, but she said it should not last for more than 24 hours or so. Mine were running in the 300's for a little over 24 hours, then slowly started coming down. Not to mention that the steroid shot I got felt like they used a drinking stray to inject it with. OUCH!!!!

Just try to stay calm, getting yourself stressed out will only make your readings higher.

Plus remember that some diabetics will get higher readings anytime their sick, whether it's a cold or just not feeling good in general.

Chin Up.....it will get better.

Thanks so much for the feedback. That gives me some comfort. I'm only about 2 months into knowing about the diabetes and had no idea about how illness could affect bs....well, the illness didn't, the treatment did! I was at 89 at noon! This headache is very tiring though. I hope I'll feel a lot better tomorrow. Thanks again...

 

[breezeonby]

Hi Diana! Sorry that you are under the weather. I am almost sure that the steroid shot is running up your blood sugar readings. It might be high for a few days. It would be a good idea to test often and see what is going on. Being sick can also cause your readings to climb. It is unfortunate that a shot of something to make you feel better makes you sick in another way. Drink all the fluids that you can handle. Take care and get well soon!

 

[Diana]

Hi Diana! Sorry that you are under the weather. I am almost sure that the steroid shot is running up your blood sugar readings. It might be high for a few days. It would be a good idea to test often and see what is going on. Being sick can also cause your readings to climb. It is unfortunate that a shot of something to make you feel better makes you sick in another way. Drink all the fluids that you can handle. Take care and get well soon!

Thanks, Breeze.... went to bed at 267 and woke up at 158. That's about where I was before taking Metformin. I guess I'll have to expect it will stay up since half the meds I'm taking for the sinus infection can affect my bg (btw is there a difference in bs and bg?). Hopefully, not as much as the steroid did though! I need to find out how long it stays in your system.

I'm still pissed that the doctor didn't warn me that it was going to shoot up. Maybe he figured that I was aware of it since people have been (had to be) more responsible for their own knowledge about their health. For those that aren't doctors just prescribe all kinds of meds and send them home to read the directions on the bottle.

I'll stop now before I put another soapbox up and start screaming. I've gone through this battle of trying to help women educate themselves about menopause for 15 years and I still have women writing to me that their doctors arent' listening to them.

Thanks again for your feedback and support and good wishes. Hope you're doing ok too. I've got to go for my walk before it gets hotter--already 72° and 81% humidity. I think I'll carry a water with me today.

 

[onaughmae]

So sorry you are feeling poorly. I hope you get better soon. Steriods are definately something that just wreaks havoc on our blood sugars. Last time I had to take them my blood sugars were running over 400. I avoid steriods as much as possible anymore....but if you need them, there really isnt much choice. It usually only lasts for a couple of days (thank goodness). Be cautious exercising when your blood sugar is really high....sometimes it will actually go up instead of down at that point.

 

[breezeonby]

Thanks, Breeze.... went to bed at 267 and woke up at 158. That's about where I was before taking Metformin. I guess I'll have to expect it will stay up since half the meds I'm taking for the sinus infection can affect my bg (btw is there a difference in bs and bg?). Hopefully, not as much as the steroid did though! I need to find out how long it stays in your system.

I'm still pissed that the doctor didn't warn me that it was going to shoot up. Maybe he figured that I was aware of it since people have been (had to be) more responsible for their own knowledge about their health. For those that aren't doctors just prescribe all kinds of meds and send them home to read the directions on the bottle.

I'll stop now before I put another soapbox up and start screaming. I've gone through this battle of trying to help women educate themselves about menopause for 15 years and I still have women writing to me that their doctors arent' listening to them.

Thanks again for your feedback and support and good wishes. Hope you're doing ok too. I've got to go for my walk before it gets hotter--already 72° and 81% humidity. I think I'll carry a water with me today.

You will learn something new everyday about diabetes. When a doctor wants to prescribe a new medication for you-always ask if it will raise your blood sugar-and blood sugar and blood glucose is the same. I think that blood glucose is more proper but I have gotten in such a habit of saying "blood sugar" it is hard to change.

 

[weaveroflight]

I need to take high dose steroids for my MS. It takes me a very long time for my BS to go back down. Right after my treatment I will have BS in the high 400's.

That's the way it is for me. Without the steroids I would need to stay in bed so I would not fall. It has been 2 months now and my BS are under 200.

There are times that other problems make it hard to keep those low BS.
Good Luck

 

[Diana]

I need to take high dose steroids for my MS. It takes me a very long time for my BS to go back down. Right after my treatment I will have BS in the high 400's.

That's the way it is for me. Without the steroids I would need to stay in bed so I would not fall. It has been 2 months now and my BS are under 200.

There are times that other problems make it hard to keep those low BS.
Good Luck

Bless your heart...sounds like quite a struggle. I shouldn't complain at all, but I was so unaware that it would happen and got scared. I hope you just keep getting better numbers and feeling good.

 

[weaveroflight]

You keep up your great work! Don't worry about last year since you are doing so well now! I wish I could get a mile of walking in. Now I am doing some seated chair exercises(DVD)