Blood Glucose Level with GCA/MPR

I have GCA and PMR and I am diabetic (before the GCA). Your blood glucose is high,ie. mine was 136 this morning. I am no expert but I would cut the carbs as soon as possible. I am on Actemra/Tocilizumab and it does help with the Prednisone but is not a substitute for it. The blood glucose does drop as you taper the Prednisone but I would cut the carbs now. The experts (and they are very good) will give you solid advice. I hope this helps.

CC

Yes, I'm dealing with the prednisone induced diabetes, too.  My general doctor, an internist, is managing it and has not put me on medication, yet.  I've been diagnosed for 5 months.  

What I have done is I've gone to two diabetes clinics and they helped a lot.  The nurses and dietitians have such good ideas and helps.  

I'm to take my blood sugar two times a day - 2 hours after the noon meal and 2 hours after the evening meal.  Am keeping records and the doctor will run another A1c this next visit. 

One dietitian said to eat every 2 hours, the suggestion for me was to have 3 meals with 45 carbs each and 3 snacks with 15-20 carbs each (thus the every 2 hour deal.)    She said when I eat fruit to couple it with a protein and I'm doing that - it's helpful.  - apples and cheese, or an apple with peanut butter, etc.

It was hard to find a glucose chart.  If you'd like, I can scan the one I found and send it to you off list.  

One thing for sure, my numbers are much lower before taking the prednisone.  

Learn everything you can learn about diabetes and hold out the hope that when the prednisone is lower, maybe the diabetes will go away.  My doctor is holding out less hope for mine reversing, but I'm holding out a LOT of hope.  Am on 10mg now (down from the original 60mg - decreasing over 10+ months.)  Will remain on 10 for another month and my instructions are to lower only 1 mg a month and no more - holding if there are any changes.  

The stress in our family is too much to try to do anything and since things are steady - I'm hanging at 10.

Portions, counting carbs, eating frequent small amounts, try to go to a diabetic clinic through your local hospital or wherever you can locate one, and know that this might go away.  I'm hoping the best for you. 

Watch, always, for a drop in blood sugar.  We were told (at the clinic) to keep soft peppermints with us.  A drop in blood sugar is dangerous.  If you start to sweat, get weak, dizzy - take your blood sugar.   Orange juice (6-8 oz) will do the same.  Look up the symptoms for this, too. 

MariGrace   

@Darlene36688 I'm fortunate to have a blood sugar level of 5.3 on my prednisone. My endocrinologist wishes for half her patients to be so lucky who are not on Prednisone. I would suggest a strict diet was supplements. Most all hospitals have a diabetic Center where you can go and have I want online with a nutritionist. They even have plates that you can purchase that show division by percentage of food until you get used to doing it yourself. I used to be with someone who was diabetic so I always cook that way for both of us it's a very healthy way of eating. But as above suggested get out all your processed foods and carbs for starters. Best of luck to you. Janet

As the others have said - Have you tried cutting your carbs drastically? Several people on the forums have brought their Hba1c down to low pre-diabetic levels and even normal by doing so. 

It really isn't anything to worry about at present - many people remain on pred because they don't have the choice and manage diabetes well. It should improve as the dose falls and it is only many years of poorly controlled blood sugar levels that lead to serious trouble.

Hi, Darlene,   I was drinking a glass of water a little while ago and thought, "We didn't talk about the importance of drinking water and diabetes."  I hear my medic daughter say -often, 'The solution to pollution is dilution."  She is often telling me to 'drink water.' 

Being a learner and no expert on this subject, I have been doing some web searches about the importance of drinking water with diabetes and I'm attempting to drink 6 oz an hour right now.  Not always successful, but I am choosing water over other liquids with meals, etc.  Juice has to be handled with care because it is so carb loaded. The dietitians I've heard stress avoiding sweet drinks.

Take care.  Keep the hope and I hope you can get your prednisone down over time and as you do that you see positive changes.

My doctor insists on slow, slow, slow prednisone reduction. He knows I'd like to be off it a long time ago so he is stressing the need for patience.  

Do not want a flare or relapse.  No, no, no.

We can do this - and this group is truly a blessing.

MariGrace