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Suggest Treatment For Severe Pain, Swollen Limbs And Fluctuating Blood Sugar Levels

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Posted on Mon, 6 Jul 2015
Question: I have RA am taking Humira 40 mg every 14 days Diabetes Humulin R 20 units 3 times daily plus Tantem once weekly since Fri I have been in severe pain swollen hands feet legs unable to get out of bed without help my right side of mouth is painful unable to raise my arms my blood sugars have been running between 250 and 187 My neck is stiff unable to turn it from side to side. Since 4am I have urinated only three times. If asked to rate my pain I would have to say 10 + I did have heart problems in Aug. of 2014
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shehzad Topiwala (6 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Diabetes

Detailed Answer:
Sorry to note your symptoms.

I suggest you see a doctor right away in person.

The mouth pain, neck stiffness, swollen joints and movement limitations are not due to high sugars.

But the diabetes needs to be controlled with appropriate dose adjustments of the insulin you are taking.
When I see someone like you in my office, I advise them to increase their Humulin R doses. However this requires a complex dosing schedule which I prepare for them after knowing them for considerable time, based upon their body's insulin requirements. So there is no one-size-fits-all approach.
You can ask your endocrinologist who prescribes the Humulin R to you, to suggest the dose increase.
Often it is a matter of trial-and-error to arrive the amount of Insulin required to being the glucoses in the target range of 100 or thereabouts safely without frequent/severe low glucose reactions.
It is likely your RA has flared up and some medical changes need to be made in the treatment of this condition to improve your symptoms.



Note: For further follow-up, discuss your blood glucose reports with our diabetologist. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Shehzad Topiwala

Endocrinologist

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 1663 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Severe Pain, Swollen Limbs And Fluctuating Blood Sugar Levels

Brief Answer: Diabetes Detailed Answer: Sorry to note your symptoms. I suggest you see a doctor right away in person. The mouth pain, neck stiffness, swollen joints and movement limitations are not due to high sugars. But the diabetes needs to be controlled with appropriate dose adjustments of the insulin you are taking. When I see someone like you in my office, I advise them to increase their Humulin R doses. However this requires a complex dosing schedule which I prepare for them after knowing them for considerable time, based upon their body's insulin requirements. So there is no one-size-fits-all approach. You can ask your endocrinologist who prescribes the Humulin R to you, to suggest the dose increase. Often it is a matter of trial-and-error to arrive the amount of Insulin required to being the glucoses in the target range of 100 or thereabouts safely without frequent/severe low glucose reactions. It is likely your RA has flared up and some medical changes need to be made in the treatment of this condition to improve your symptoms.