Pain Center Treatment Affecting Blood Sugar Levels

[Sapphire]

I was in a car accident in April, and have been going to the pain center for injections in my back. I've been warned that it can affect my blood sugar levels. So, with the first shot, he only gave me a half dose injection to see how I would react. For the next week, my levels were in the 170's. This last time he gave me the full dose and told me to expect readings well into the 200's. It has yet to go over 128. I really can't figure this out. Does anyone else get epidural injections for pain? If so, how does it affect your levels?

[jimmys devoted]

Epidural inh\jects affect the entire nervous system. we have two, the autonomic and systemic. the autonomic are basically self controlled. And are base don feedback frfom all neuropns and axions working. If these are blocked all systems fry for a short period of time. that means your body wont react to any stimulus the way it should. Since the epridural breaks the axion bonds you won't be in control as much as you should. Also pain release cortisols into the systems which elevate BG levels by releaseing glucogen from the liver to allow for a back up system of adrenaline to be produced.
By interrupting the action reaction feedback you elevate. thats why when you are injectable pain medication it is not uncommon to be placed on insulin instead of oral medications.
Since we begin to produce ketones at 180mg/dl and that can cause more damage insulin helps to prevent ketosis. With your Bgs elevating and possibly spiking between testing your dr. shoudl have advised insulin to maintain control and prevent further secondary complications from the diabetes.

julie

[Tee]

This was helpful information. Did not know any of this. Thanks

[Parise]

No i didnt know anything about this but thank you for the information. it was extremly helpful.

[jimmys devoted]

One thing I have noticed, and this is just a heads up, is many doctors d who dealw ith diabeets often dont take the time to take CMEs, especially related to diabetes.
If they would have, it woudl have been part of the normal education and self managment talk that doctors are supposed to give about pain and elevated glucose reactions and new complications associated with it and the need for insulin.
Make sure that he you go to a pain clinic or to your doctor, find out if they have taken the new CMEs on pain managment and diabetes.
j

[Parise]

So are you saying that doctors should take the time out to deal with diabetes when dealing with patients who have it even if certain treatment doesn't affect it?

[randle]

I think alot of different medications actually have an affect on your blood levels. I didn't realize it until I researched and learned how people are affected by certain things taken on by their body.

[skatss]

Originally Posted by Sapphire

I was in a car accident in April, and have been going to the pain center for injections in my back. I've been warned that it can affect my blood sugar levels. So, with the first shot, he only gave me a half dose injection to see how I would react. For the next week, my levels were in the 170's. This last time he gave me the full dose and told me to expect readings well into the 200's. It has yet to go over 128. I really can't figure this out. Does anyone else get epidural injections for pain? If so, how does it affect your levels?

One thing I have noticed over all the years I have had diabetes -- all I need be is in pain or uncomfortable at any level and the upset can bring my numbers up. Most emotionally trying things can make the blood sugar go up too.

Just keep checking your numbers and try to keep calm. The more vigilant you are about trying to keep the numbers down, the better off, overall, you will be.