Have any of you had blood sugar problems on prednisone? I have been constantly thirsty lately and cranky. I just realized that is how my brother was just before he was dx with diabetes. Course, he lost weight and I am gaining like mad. I cannot seem to tolerate any salt at all or I retain lots of water. I know pred does that but I have never noticed it this much. I hardly ever pee (sorry for the TMI) either and that is not right either. Maybe it is time to see a dr.
Laker
YES! I haven't had that problem, but I know of several who have pred induced diabetes. Please see your doctor....it is very important to control your sugars. Let us know how it turns out.
Phats
Thanks, Phats. I will call today for an appt. I have been thinking for a while that something seems "wrong", but kept thinking maybe I might be making a mountain out of a molehill. You are right it's too important to ignore. Sometimes I just need a good shove to do what I should.
Laker
i have prednisolone diabetes. only when i take prednisolone . any other time its fine but if i am on high doses of it i also need insulin. I just had my blood tested yesterday and for the last 2 yrs. my blood suger has come back elevated but my doc says I'm not yet diabetic. He said this was good since I've been on the prednisone for so long. Even though I love sweets, I have been trying to watch what I eat because of the raised blood sugar and trying to maintain a decent weight. My brother and sister and mother all are diabetic and have weight issues. Funny thing is, you have to go all the way back to my great-grandmother to find any type of arthritis.Hi, does it make you sleepy? Do you feel fatigued all the time? or is it the RA? I"M really wondering. I'm taking less and less prednisone and sleeping more and more. No energy. Took 20 MTX a minute ago. As long as I feel awful I might as well be on the really big medication! Who knows? SarahAS I DECREASE MY PRDNISONE, I AM GETTING INCREASINGLY FATIUGED AS WELL.
THE LAST TIME I WENT OFF PREDNISONE, MY BLOOD SUGARS DROPPED I WAS HYPOGLYCEMIC FOR ABOUT A MONTH AFTER. AT THE TIME I DIDNT KNOW THE PRED. MESSED WITH YOUR INSULIN, SO I WOULD GO TO WORK IN THE MORNING,SHKEY AND WOULD HAVE TO EAT. BUT THEN I LOOKED UP SIDE EFFECTS, AND THERE IT WAS. THEM DOCTORS REALLY DONT INFORM NEWBIES LIKE THEY SHOULD ON THESE MEDS.
KEL
I've tapered also and am fatigued as well. I expected the fatigue. I was fortunate and my blood sugars have stayed stable during the 3.5 years I've been on Pred. I eat 5 small meals a day to combat the hypoglycemic effects of tapering. I deal with all this just to get off Pred. Once you hit and taper below 7.5 your adrenal has to kick in and produce the approximately 7.5 mg. of steroids per day that your body requires. Sometimes the adrenals remain sluggish and that can cause fatigue.Wow! I have learnt something else from here that the docs never bothered to tell me about - pred can not only make you feel witchy and do damage to body if taken too long, but also affect blood sugar levels?? !!
My body accepts mtx and has done well on it + Celebrex and placquenil, but originally I was on 5 mg pred. a day for some years. Now only have 'pred packs' when in bad flare - but will know to watch out and be careful of sugar intake - and I do so love sweet stuff :(
Lorrie, google Pred and read the literature. It has all the information that you could ever want or need. Docs can't tell you all the info. about each and every drug that they prescribe. Some do a better job than others about informing their patients. If you haven't done it goole each of the meds you're on so that you know what to expect and if there are any interactions with other meds that you're taking. Better too much info than not enough. Take Care. Laker,