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Do Epidural Steroid Injections Cause Elevated Blood And Urine Sugar Levels?
Question: Wife is 38 and had epidural steroid injections yesterday morning.
Last night she went to ER thinkibg she had bladder infection. ER doc didnt find bacteria but she had a glucose spillover of +1, blood glocose of 140.
He just told her to follow up with Dr about diabetes. But gave her antibiotic in case he missed infection.
Wife does not fit the profile of a diabetic( athletic, good shape, low sugar diet)
So, she had eaten about 2 hours prior to test and had injections which cause blood sugar to rise earlier that day.
Im out of town but checked her sugar this morning before leaving and she was at 90. Both times. she said her urine was cloudy later today, so i told her to probably start antibiotic. She now says her veins in the top of her feet look a little bulging but no pain and other than feeling of bladder infection she feels fine.
My question is do you see anything urgent?
She hates going to the ER and shes freaking me out. I really think her spill over was from steroid but regardless, do you think her decision to just stay at home is reasonable.
If theres no big red flag symptoms you see with what ive said ill agree with her to wait.
Last night she went to ER thinkibg she had bladder infection. ER doc didnt find bacteria but she had a glucose spillover of +1, blood glocose of 140.
He just told her to follow up with Dr about diabetes. But gave her antibiotic in case he missed infection.
Wife does not fit the profile of a diabetic( athletic, good shape, low sugar diet)
So, she had eaten about 2 hours prior to test and had injections which cause blood sugar to rise earlier that day.
Im out of town but checked her sugar this morning before leaving and she was at 90. Both times. she said her urine was cloudy later today, so i told her to probably start antibiotic. She now says her veins in the top of her feet look a little bulging but no pain and other than feeling of bladder infection she feels fine.
My question is do you see anything urgent?
She hates going to the ER and shes freaking me out. I really think her spill over was from steroid but regardless, do you think her decision to just stay at home is reasonable.
If theres no big red flag symptoms you see with what ive said ill agree with her to wait.
Brief Answer:
Nothing urgent.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
From what you described, I don't think there is anything urgent that needs addressing.
The blood glucose of 140 with 1+ sugar in urine is abnormal but not urgently dangerous as her glucose was normal today; and corticosteroids (also known as glucocorticoids) definitely raise blood sugar. She should still follow up with her primary doctor about the glucose elevation. He or she can check a Hemoglobin A1C or just called "A1C" which gives an average of blood sugar over the past 2-3 months. And another fasting blood sugar level.
I am not sure about the bulging at the top of her feet, but perhaps she is having a bit of fluid retention from the steroid. Elevating her feet several times a day may help.
It's possible to have dysuria and bladder inflammation without an actual urinary tract infection but most are caused by infection. She probably already knows to push fluids, and take lots of cranberry. Since she had the recent blood sugar elevation, probably best to avoid products like Ocean Spray cranberry juice as it is loaded with sugar. Instead, get a cranberry juice concentrate and reconstitute it with water and a little unsweetened apple juice. Or take cranberry powder capsules which can be bought at most drug stores.
I hope this information helps.
Nothing urgent.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
From what you described, I don't think there is anything urgent that needs addressing.
The blood glucose of 140 with 1+ sugar in urine is abnormal but not urgently dangerous as her glucose was normal today; and corticosteroids (also known as glucocorticoids) definitely raise blood sugar. She should still follow up with her primary doctor about the glucose elevation. He or she can check a Hemoglobin A1C or just called "A1C" which gives an average of blood sugar over the past 2-3 months. And another fasting blood sugar level.
I am not sure about the bulging at the top of her feet, but perhaps she is having a bit of fluid retention from the steroid. Elevating her feet several times a day may help.
It's possible to have dysuria and bladder inflammation without an actual urinary tract infection but most are caused by infection. She probably already knows to push fluids, and take lots of cranberry. Since she had the recent blood sugar elevation, probably best to avoid products like Ocean Spray cranberry juice as it is loaded with sugar. Instead, get a cranberry juice concentrate and reconstitute it with water and a little unsweetened apple juice. Or take cranberry powder capsules which can be bought at most drug stores.
I hope this information helps.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Though im only a paramedic, i do have some knowledge of physiology and disease processes and the blood sugar thing seems a bit like a red herring to me. I think the response after the course of ABiotics will be pretty telling
Brief Answer:
Good luck to her.
Detailed Answer:
A hemoglobin A1C will give you more info. Hopefully she will be just fine soon.
If you are still on HCM after she sees her doc, please let me know how she is doing.
Best regards,
Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, MD
Good luck to her.
Detailed Answer:
A hemoglobin A1C will give you more info. Hopefully she will be just fine soon.
If you are still on HCM after she sees her doc, please let me know how she is doing.
Best regards,
Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, MD
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Will do. Thanks for your help bringing clarity to the current situation. Ill be back in town in a few hours so ill be able to check her out
Brief Answer:
Your welcome.
Detailed Answer:
That will be a relief to both of you for you to see her in person, I'm sure!
If you have no further questions, you can go ahead and close the discussion.
If you want to ask me any further questions afterwards, please put my name in the first line of your question and I will see it within a few hours.
Your welcome.
Detailed Answer:
That will be a relief to both of you for you to see her in person, I'm sure!
If you have no further questions, you can go ahead and close the discussion.
If you want to ask me any further questions afterwards, please put my name in the first line of your question and I will see it within a few hours.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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