Posted on 04/21/2024 9:13:14 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
Managing a stroke victim's blood sugar levels after they receive powerful clot-busting drugs might help them survive their health crisis, a new trial finds.
People with high blood sugar levels were more likely to suffer a potentially deadly brain bleed after clot-busters reopened their blocked brain arteries, researchers found.
The risk was particularly high in older patients with more severe strokes.
"These data suggest that more focus and research is needed on the management of high blood sugar in the treatment of stroke patients, particularly those with higher risk, more severe strokes," said Dr. Andrew Southerland.
For the study, researchers analyzed data from a clinical trial involving more than 1,100 people, of whom 63% received treatment with clot-busting drugs. About four out of five patients had type 2 diabetes. About half of those who got clot-buster therapy were randomly assigned to receive intensive insulin treatment afterward, in an attempt to aggressively manage their blood sugar levels.
In general, high blood sugar after clot-busting therapy was associated with a greater risk of a brain bleed, researchers said. And every 10-point increase in average blood sugar increased the odds of a brain bleed by 8%.
Further, patients who reached a lower blood sugar level sooner after receiving clot-busting therapy typically fared better, results show.
However, the specific insulin treatment used in the trial did not make a significant difference in the risk for a brain bleed, researchers said.
Even though the insulin therapy didn't work, the results highlight the importance of managing blood sugar levels, researchers said.
"One of the most important things patients can do to decrease their risk of stroke, particularly among diabetics, is work with their doctors and lifestyle to manage their blood sugar," Southerland said in a university news release.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
They saw this, then tried only one insulin treatment, and it didn’t help, despite reducing blood sugar.
It would seem getting your blood sugar under control on your own, would be best, while healing.
When I had a stroke, my blood sugar skyrocketed. They were giving me insulin - only time in my life I’ve had it. They injected me for about 20 days. This had NOTHING to do with what I was eating.
The 3rd day I was in the hospital the head nutritionist came to my bedside and asked me why I wasn’t eating. I told her she was giving me about 3 times the carbs in ONE meal that I normally eat in 3 days. She asked me what I would eat, I told her eggs and bacon, no toast. Chef’s salad, no dressing unless she had olive oil. Grilled chicken thigh and broccoli. She started sending me meals like that, and I started eating again.
When I researched the “high blood sugar not food related” thing, I discovered that when you have a traumatic injury (a stroke is considered a traumatic injury), your body (picture it like a gyroscope) “wobbles”, trying to regain equilibrium. Your high blood sugar is part of your body trying to return to normal.
(Thank you for your post!)
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