CFRD...insulin?

[swingswing]

i was curious if any of you out there have gotten diabetes from being on steriods. i got diabetes from being on steriods about 5 years ago. I had HORRIBLE blood sugar levels past 500, and i was on insulin, humalog, evrytime i ate. Then when i was finally was off the steriods, after about 7 months, the diabetes went away with it. But today i am still a borderline diabetic. If i have sugar, my blood levels will reach a bit above 200, and i was told to avoid eating sugar, and a lot of carbs. my question is....well my sister who is a dermatologist spoke to an endocrinnologist who said my doctors arent handling it right. The endocrinologist my sister spoke to thinks i should go on short acting insulin, as if i have diabetes so i can eat whatever i want and not have to worry. When i have sugar sometimes, very rare now if i do, than i feel the blood sugar raising, in the sens that i start becoming a bit tired and weak (i know the symptoms trust me ive had every one of themin the book!)..so are any of you out there, have diabetes, i guess from either steriods or CFRD, but dont have such high blood sugars i guess, and are on insulin?...do you think i should go on short acting insulin so i can eat what i want? or is it fine that i just dont eat a lot of carbs or sugar at all really anymore? which do u think i better?....my doctos tend to think i should just wait until i get ful fledged diabetes again, which they think i will later on again...but for now im 'borderline', so they tell me to just stay away from sugar and a lot of carbs...any suggestions?
Gabby 19/f w CF

 

[anonymous]

Hi Gabby - I am a parent of a child with cf. I have diabetes myself. What the endo. is telling your sister sounds correct for the average person. I think you need to follow what the dr.s are indicating is the correct protocol for your type of diabetes. The endo. your sister is talking to is probably not all that familiar with cfrd. If you haven't already, I would deal with an endo. in the same hosp. setting as your cf clinic. Best Wishes.
Jo Ann

 

[anonymous]

Gabby,
I would say if you are having trouble gaining weight or keeping on weight, then what the endo said makes sense. I have CFRD and don't eat sugar and am able to keep my weight up too, so I don't take insulin. However, if I struggled to maintain or gain weight, then eating sugar w/ insulin shots to offset it would be the thing I would do.
Let's face it, sugar & carbs are a good way to gain weight (otherwise the Atkins type diets wouldn't be so successful)<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[swingswing]

thanks for ur input! i appreciate it...i dont have trouble gaining weight (anymore) Thank Gd and so i guess ill just stay how i am...and if i am to get diabetes full fledge, it will be a diff story
thanks again!!
Gabby

 

[swingswing]

thanks for ur input! i appreciate it...i dont have trouble gaining weight (anymore) Thank Gd and so i guess ill just stay how i am...and if i am to get diabetes full fledge, it will be a diff story
thanks again!!
Gabby

 

[kybert]

ive always been told that its a big no no to cut carbs and sugar out for cfrd. not only that but its almost impossible to avoid them completely unless you live solely on veges! its best just to take the insulin and eat what you want. has anyone talked about taking tablets for it? sometimes tablets are successful and because you are borderline they might work better than if you were to take it with full diabetes.

 

[swingswing]

i dont avoid them completely by any means, its not possible i dont think...i just dont have sugar, in the sense that i dont eat candy or anyting...i eat things with sugar in them, if theres a little in the recipe, but something like cakes and cookies i cant have more than lets say 4 MAX cookies, and w carbs, i eat a lot, not alot like i used to, but as long as im having protein as well at the meal, then the doc said it was fine...i dont know if that makes sense, but thats just what ive been told....Pills? there r pills for diabetes?....i mean obviously i dont intend to take insulin, like long lasting or antying, but like i was just wondering about short acting (i would consult an endo doc for the amounts and everything)...i dont know my exact numbers but its something like...normally, like right now, im normal, btwn 85-100 levels...and then when i eat it can be like 120 and as much as 220 (when i have SUGAR)....i dont drink regular soda or antying like with sugar in it anymore, i dont drink even orange juice or grapfruit juice, two cups of grapefruit juice and it can hit like 180s or something....so i just have been avoiding it all....which can be hard when i ahve a craving for something with sugar and all...but ive never heard that its dangerous in general, to stop sugar and carbs?
....any thoughts?

 

[kybert]

the main reason why its not a good idea to cut carbs and sugar out is because when you do go back to your normal diet things get messy with insulin dosage. when i was diagnosed with steroid induced diabetes people were bringing me in sugar free foods etc. the endos and diabetic educator told me not to eat them and to eat as normal, the previous being the reason. i ended up getting frustrated with my bad levels and was a bit naughty and ate some of the sugar free things. this of course brings the sugars down and you think 'oh goody ive got my insulin and sugar levels right'. but then when you get sick of the sugar free stuff and go back to normal it all goes back up again and you have to adjust everything and test your sugars more regularly until it all settles [which in turn frustrates you more]. so if the less sugar and carb thing is something you will keep up and not slack off on, and you are not very underweight [this is the only time it would be dangerous] then by all means carry on with what you are doing.

there certainly are pills for diabetes. they are particularly good for borderline diabetics. ive read somewhere where they arent as effective on cfrd. but i dont know if thats true. i know someone who takes pills and does well on them. there are 3 [or 4??] kinds of pills and they all do different things. but in the end most people say insulin is best.

btw 180 isnt that bad after drinking 2 cups of juice without insulin. my target when on steroids is to be between 6 [4 at breakfast] and 10 before meals [times that by 18 and you get the other measurement]. if you want to have a juice fix have it with a meal. it absorbs slower when combined with fat and protein.