My recent comprehensive metabolic blood work again shows me with a high glucose level.

Posted , 6 users are following.

This time it is again below the real danger level but still worthy of action. The reading is 118, the max it should be fasting ia 100. These are US numbers.

Does the pred have an effect on this as well? And if so, does everyone on it just accept these readings and press on?

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • Posted

    Some people develop pre-diabetes due to the action of pred yes. It changes the way we process simple carbs and raises the blood sugar level. 

    I eat very little in the way of simple carbs - but even I get a raised fasting level at times. However - a raised fasting level is not particularly important unless it is really raised. The far more accurate assessment of your risk is the Hba1C test - an indication of the long term average levels over a period of 3 months and that is what should be being checked on a regular basis, not a fasting BS which doesn't really tell anyone anything useful. Saves you having to fast for the blood draw as well!

    My husband has a raised fasting level - he's not overweight (in fact, if he lost any more weight he'd slide down the nearest drain cover) and he eats/drinks none of the normal suspects. He has an abnormal glucose tolerance test - because he never normally eats more than about 50g utilisable carbs at a time and a GTT involves a challenge with 75g all at once! Caused great panic - until they checked his Hba1C (after he'd seen the dietician who'd said "I can't do anything for you") which was lower than the GP's, which is normal.

    Does one accept it and press on? Well, that all depends. You need the Hba1C checked - and if that is OK it just needs checking every few months tp make sure it stays OK. If that is high then you may need some further investigation. High BS is high BS and if it gets high enough for long enough it will do damage to your tissues which is what causes the long term problems in diabetics. You may be allowed to manage it with diet - if you reduce the amount of carbs you eat, you will also reduce the risks. Or if it doesn't get managed with diet they may talk about medication like metformin or one of its friends.

    In that context you will  find a lot of good info on a site called Diabetic Mediterranean Diet Blog by Steve Parker - a diabetic doctor who preaches the carb problem message. The American Diabetic Association now does suggest restricted carbs for managing diabetes so it isn't all guff.

    • Posted

      Thanks for explanation. I have not had an a1c in awhile. Must get it done and keep up with this. I can do without further problems.
  • Posted

    I had typr 2 diabetes prior to starting pred which was well controlled by oral tablets. Soon after staring the pred my blood sugars shot up and I now have to inject insulin twice a day. I wish I'd never started taking pred.
    • Posted

      Thanks for reply. Wish I had not started either but not much choice. About time for a breakthrough for us PMR folks.
    • Posted

      I've had PMR for about 12 years now. I had the first 5 years with no pred - not out of choice, doctors who didn't recognise with "normal" blood tests.

      Nothing would take me back there - I've had a fair bit of bother with side effects, above all from methyl prednsiolone, but none of them ever made me consider stopping taking it. I've had flares every so often even on the pred, various reasons, but each one reminded me why I take it.

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