do any of you take steroids and insulin?

[deb1960]

Before taking steroids my diabetes was well controlled on metformin. I was diagnosed with polymyalgia rhumatica and started on prednisolone in march this year. I was not advised that steroids cause havoc with diabetes and it wasn't until I developed thrush that my bs were checked and found to be in excess of 27! After several months of my gp's diabetic nurse trying me on four or five different diabetic medications with no reduction at all in my bs I was referred to a diabetes nurse specialist and started on insulin. Although it brought my readings down they were still too high (typically around 11 to 14) so I was started on trulicity four weeks ago. My bs are now anything between 5 and 8 which I'm really pleased with. The only problem I have is that I have little or no appetite which is good news is one way as I am overweight but even though I'm hardly eating I don't seem to be losing weight as I would expect. I can only put this down to using insulin and the steroids. Any thoughts?

 

[deb1960]

I'm on insulin, metformin and trulicity.

 

[Daibell]

Hi. Yes, the medics don't seem to understand that steroids have some important side effects. I would discuss the need for the steroids and the dose level you are on. Check with the GP that the steroids are only available treatment. As others have said, there is little you can do to keep the blood sugar well down hence the need to review the steroid dose.

 

[deb1960]

Unfortunately I have polymyalgia rhumatica which can only be treated with steroids, an associated condition is GCA which can cause irrevocable blindness hence the need for the steroids. I started on 20mg in march this year and am now on 9mg and gradually reducing by 1 mg every four weeks although my gp says it could be up to 5 years before I am completely off steroids. I however plan to be off them far sooner!

 

[Lou73]

I have been taking steroids since I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in May 2013. I was then diagnosed with diabetes on March 2014 - due to the steroids. But I also have a family history of diabetes and had gestational diabetes in both of my pregnancies - so I may have developed it anyway. I started on insulin (basal/bolus) in April this year. Still finding it hard to control my levels due to continued use of oral steroids and occasional steroid infusions, but also due to continued pain.

 

[Sid Bonkers]

I was on prednisolone long term (3 years) for a respiratory condition and it actually caused my T2 diabetes, I was put on insulin mdi treatment injecting before meals with a short acting insulin and using a long tern insulin before bed to keep my levels stable overnight.

I found that once I got used to counting the carps in my meals I was able to control my diabetes quite well and after losing 4 stone and weaning myself off the pred during the first year I was able to stop the insulin treatment, in fact I lost a further stone after coming off insulin and have maintained that weight loss now for around 6 years.

The steroid saved my life so I would have no fear of taking it again should I need to as long as I went back on insulin.

edited for ps. Good luck

 

[Daibell]

Unfortunately I have polymyalgia rhumatica which can only be treated with steroids, an associated condition is GCA which can cause irrevocable blindness hence the need for the steroids. I started on 20mg in march this year and am now on 9mg and gradually reducing by 1 mg every four weeks although my gp says it could be up to 5 years before I am completely off steroids. I however plan to be off them far sooner!

Hi. Yes, I understand and sad there are no options for you. My wife was on Prednisolone enemas for years for her Ulcerative Colitis and despite being told it would not be absorbed it was and she had large weight gain. Her excellent consultant then suggested an alternative treatment which had some downside but proved to be far more suitable and avoided the downside of the steroids.