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Steroid induced diabetes

B

bde987

Newbie
Messages
3
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi everyone.
This is my first post and looking forward to learning more about diabetes through your posts.. Before l started taking the steroid prednisilone for polymyalgia rheumatica my blood glucose was absolutely normal. A year later l was in the prediabetic range and my gp explained that steroids can increase blood glucose when taking steroids long term.. Six months on my gp did another hb1ac and it had risen again and put me in the diabetic range so yesterday l started on Metformin and need to stay on it while l am on the steroids ( which may be a year or longer) l just wanted to say hi to you all and ask if there is anyone else who has diabetes due to prednisilone?
 
Hello @bde987 and welcome to the forum, you will find there are many people here who can answer your questions and point you in the right direction to find out more.


I am not taking prednisolone, but I have been taking prednisone for the past 5 years. My neurologist sent me to the diabetes clinic when she put me on high doses of the steroid, soon after diagnosing myasthenia gravis. Although my doctor lowered the steroid dose, I found that did not affect my diabetes, and moved from a range of tablets to insulin after 4 years.


Yes, it is said that if you finish with the steroid the diabetes may go away, and then you may finish with diabetes, I have not yet met anyone in that situation. But it is your doctor who can advise you on when diabetes has gone.


So, what are your initial questions?
Royjk
 
bde987 said:
Hi everyone.
This is my first post and looking forward to learning more about diabetes through your posts.. Before l started taking the steroid prednisilone for polymyalgia rheumatica my blood glucose was absolutely normal. A year later l was in the prediabetic range and my gp explained that steroids can increase blood glucose when taking steroids long term.. Six months on my gp did another hb1ac and it had risen again and put me in the diabetic range so yesterday l started on Metformin and need to stay on it while l am on the steroids ( which may be a year or longer) l just wanted to say hi to you all and ask if there is anyone else who has diabetes due to prednisilone?
Click to expand...
Hi. The same happened to me. I was in hospital for 7 months last year. My consultant put me on Prednisilone for 3 months. Which has left me with type 2 diabetes. My worry is, I have tingling in my toes and fingers and worry it won't be reversed.
 
Townie said:
Hi. The same happened to me. I was in hospital for 7 months last year. My consultant put me on Prednisilone for 3 months. Which has left me with type 2 diabetes. My worry is, I have tingling in my toes and fingers and worry it won't be reversed.
Click to expand...
Hi @Townie , welcome to the forums.
What are your numbers like? Do you rely on blood draw tests for hba1c once in a while or are you interested in using a meter to test before and after meals to see what is happening?
 
Hi, while I was on steroids it went up to 106, it has gone down to 46, since stopping the steroids. But my GP is treating it as if I have diabetes, so has put me on Metformin. I recently read that people on Metformin, might get pins and needles or a tingling sensation, in bot hands and feet could be the result of low Vitamin B12, which could be a side effect of the Metformin. Going to book an appointment with my GP before I start taking it.
 
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