Corticosteroids

Sorry if this an issue which is clear from other threads, but I'm not good with forums and rarely submit posts, although I've followed this forum for a long time. I'm 65 and type 1 for 52 years, on insulin throughout. Libre has improved my HBA1c levels to best ever, 42 (6.0%). However I've been put on a steroid for a liver problem, autoimmune hepatitis, 9mg of budesonide (Cortiment), and it is causing havoc to my levels after only two days. I've had no carbohydrate all day and took 25% more insulin this morning, but level was not falling below 12 so tonight I doubled my usual insulin dose, and my level is still between 12 and 13. I had a different steroid prednisolone a few years ago for another problem, polymyalgia rheumatica, and that also neede an increase in insulin dose, but today is getting a bit worrying. Anyone any suggestions? I'm on quite an old insulin regime of 30 units Hypurin Porcine 30/70 mix am and 40 units Hypurin Isophane pm, but until now it has been working extremely well.

himtoo said:

steroids can cause big rises in blood sugar levels....we cant advise on individual dosing... perhaps have a word with your care team to review dose levels while taking the steroids.....

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Thanks himtoo.

Alison54321 said:

Hello @robbie7 good to see you taking part in the forum, 52 years is an impressively long time to have had type 1 diabetes.

I took Prednisolone because of an asthma problem, last November, for only about a week, and it caused absolute havoc with my blood sugar, which lasted for quite a while afterwards, as well.

I think @himtoo is right, about talking to to your diabetes team, and also I would suggest, the doctor who proscribed the steroids, so that they are aware of the impact it has on your blood sugars, and take that into account, when looking at treatment.

No point solving one problem, and creating loads of other ones.

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Thanks for your advice Alison54321. Fortunately there has been a slight improvement today; after doubling my evening and morning doses and eating hardly any carbs it slowly has reduced to 7.9, so I think I'll just monitor the situation and keep taking increased insulin doses. It is a very specialised steroid and my prescribing liver consultant thought it would have fewer side effects than prednisolone, but he clearly was wrong about its lower effect on blood sugars, but then again he is not a diabetes expert.