Prednisone and blood sugar

[zigaroo]

Around April, my doctor prescribed methylprednisolynone for a possible lung infection. My blood sugar went to 500 within two days. Called doc and was advised to stop the prednisone.

I was told 48 hours would clear it out and return blood sugar to normal. Two weeks later, blood sugar still 180 to 200.

My fasting sugar has stayed 130 to 160 since.

I have posted a previous thread concerned about this, thinking it was age. On reflection, could the prednisone have caused a permanent effect?

Anyone else with same experience, or knowledge? Time for an endocrinologist?

metformin 1000mgx2

[Harold]

You have not been back to the doctor yet? :banghead: Time to go! With your fasting levels he will probably add something to your meds and your looking at another 6 to 8 weeks for it to take affect.

[Cinnabon]

YES!!!
It is always time for an ENDO. I had a friend in my class today , on Prednisone and on a pump. She has her BS levels really high too. It is a steroid and very known to do this. SHe has been advised to set a temporary rate on her pump for those days she takes the med. In other words, you might need to up your dose or have more arrangements to deal with your blood sugar. An Endo would be great help.

[zigaroo]

You have not been back to the doctor yet? :banghead: Time to go! With your fasting levels he will probably add something to your meds and your looking at another 6 to 8 weeks for it to take affect.

Actually, I went back May 20, got a lecture about diet (I've been good, but did not convince him) and see you in 3 months. He has been a good family doctor, has helped me greatly the last 4 years.

But, I believe I'll go to an endocrinologist now.

Thanks

[nantomsuethom]

Thomas was put on a steroid last year due to an asthma attack. We could not get his bg below 300, even with increasing his basal. When we stopped the steroid his bg took a couple of days to come down but we were not able to get his basals back to where they were. So I do believe that had a permanent affect on his body.

[twocute64001]

After I fell off a ladder while painting my ceilings (ok so trying to save 300.00 just cost me 4100.00 out of my pocket) my back was really screwed up, I had 2 ruptered disks and a compressed nerve, the otherpedist wanted to do surgery and I refused.

My GP sent me a steroid pack of 4mg Prednisone that you only take for 6 days. She called my endo and verified that is was ok as long as I set my pump 4X's higher than my normal settings for the full six days and that I would need to increase checking my blood to every two hours, The endo stated that the higher basel rates might be needed for a week after I completed the steroid pack.

After the oral steroids are complete (again just 6 days) I have been worned that if the sweeling and twisting of the compressed nerve returns I will need epidurial steroid injections, or to have surgery.

Thank god for my pump!

[Harold]

Actually, I went back May 20, got a lecture about diet (I've been good, but did not convince him) and see you in 3 months. He has been a good family doctor, has helped me greatly the last 4 years.

But, I believe I'll go to an endocrinologist now.

Thanks
Have a similar problem with my doc. :stupido: The high fasting levels on the other hand indicate it's not just a diet problem. Good Luck!

[Dewey]

Around April, my doctor prescribed methylprednisolynone for a possible lung infection. My blood sugar went to 500 within two days. Called doc and was advised to stop the prednisone.

I was told 48 hours would clear it out and return blood sugar to normal. Two weeks later, blood sugar still 180 to 200.

My fasting sugar has stayed 130 to 160 since.

I have posted a previous thread concerned about this, thinking it was age. On reflection, could the prednisone have caused a permanent effect?

Anyone else with same experience, or knowledge? Time for an endocrinologist?

metformin 1000mgx2
Hi There,

Just wanted to give a little input here. Steroids do in fact make blood sugars go high. As some of the others mentioned, it's difficult for Diabetics to maintain any type of control when on (any form of) steroids. I've also seen people (and animals) develop Diabetes from prolonged use of (medicinal) steroids! :eek: Some of the folks that are going through the same process as Carwy (stem cell transplant) are started on insulin as a direct result of the steroids they have to use in conjunction with treatment. I didn't allow Carwy's docs to use the dexamethasone/decadron on him, cause in addition to elevated sugars, they made him mean and hard to live with! Steroids = Bad. :thumpdown

On the endo, I also definitely recommend that you go to one. I think they have a more in-depth knowledge about Diabetes and would be better able to help you in terms of meds and such. Hope this helped you some, and best of luck to you on this! :thumbsup: