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Diabetic

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jillyy1955
jillyy1955

i was diagnosed in April and with the help of this forum have. Managed quite well have had a chest infection for 4 weeks and was  put up from 13 mg pred to 30 for 5 days am back to 13 and am ok but Dr not repeating any blood tests or doesn't seem to be monitoring me very well am waiting for ultrasound on lump on shoulder and have today been told that my blood sugar of 9.9 is a confirmed diagnosis of diabetes and could be a side effect of the pred? Also shoul I ask to see a rheumatologist I note many of you do this hasn't been offered to me. I thought I was coping but today it just seems to be one thing after another! 

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  • Nefret
    Nefret jillyy1955

    Posted

    Jilly, this has happened to me several times - needing to put up the dose for a chest infection - you do need to make all concerned aware that you have PMR and are already on steroids, if the chest unit/doctor isn't aware they will try to reduce you too quickly as a chest infection is a short term steroid situation and most GP's are used to this, but not to a situation where we just cannot reduce as quickly as they want us to.

    The first one I had I had to argue my case (very loudly) but when I went back for the next check appointment he had obviously been doing some reading as he agreed with everything I said!

    I should say I have asthma which doesn't help matters, and this summer has been the worst one for me in about 10 years.

  • Nefret
    Nefret jillyy1955

    Posted

    I meant to answer your diabetes question too (I blame the heat). 

    I have diabetes too (I'm just greedy), and yes steroids will cause your blood sugar levels to rise, but it can be helped (as someone else has said) by cutting carbs.  With most people the sugar levels will fall as you reduce the Pred and it really shouldn't be too much of a problem.  "Normal" levels are usually considered to be between 5 - 8, so it should really come down quite quickly.

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