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Metformin and Prednisolone

JohnEGreen

Master
Messages
14,002
Location
Nottinghamshire
Type of diabetes
Other
Treatment type
Diet only
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Tripe and Onions
Just wondering as Metformin reduces blood sugar and Prednisolone is known to increase blood sugar what is the likely out come of me taking both does one nullify the other.
 
JohnEGreen said:
Just wondering as Metformin reduces blood sugar and Prednisolone is known to increase blood sugar what is the likely out come of me taking both does one nullify the other.
Click to expand...
Lol dream on the pred wins hands down.
 
Your question prompted me to look it up :

"Prednisone induces elevated glucose levels by stimulating glucose secretion by the liver as well as reducing glucose transport into adipose and muscle cells. The overall effect is a reduction in glucose clearance. Elevated glucose levels can lead to glucose toxicity further impairing insulin secretion. " - http://blog.joslin.org/2014/02/how-prednisone-affects-blood-sugar/

http://www.healthline.com/diabetesm...considering-whether-to-stick-with-your-meds#1

Since even injected insulin will not work so well, pred wins out vs metformin,, as CarbsRok mentioned.

Must be really tough for diabetics on high dose long-term preds ...
 
Yes, the Pred will win hands-down. Metformin only has a very small effect on blood sugar whereas any steroid can be bad news for blood sugar. Ask the GP to use the lowest steroid dose that serves it's purpose and if your blood sugar remains excessive there are some other drugs which may help.
 
I thought so but only really just occurred to me to question it. I am on the lowest dose of Metformin and have recently that is over the last few months stepped Preds down to maintenance level of 15 mg per day going to have to discuss this with my GP.
 
I am new to this, I am on 1000mg metformin twice daily and I have been on steroids the last 5 days, last dose this evening, it has been killing me, the preds is horrible, I'm getting no sleep, drinking all night, going to the toilet all night well every hour or so, there has to be a better way than this to get over a chest infection, should I stop the metformin or do they help?
 
@Ubique sorry bit late replying but no I personally would not stop the metformin especially as you have ceased taking the vile preds the metformin does reduce blood sugar.
 
I know all about the side effects (and suffer the consequences!), but am I the only one that actually feels grateful for Prednisolone? My bones are knackered and my stomach is shot to pieces but without them, I would have been dead. I'm pretty glad that there is such a med available, I remember the bad old days of treating asthma when I was young..truly awful
 
I have been taking preds continously for about thirteen years and now have managed to step down from 40mg a day to 15. Yes without them my life would have been hell together with mestinon they are the only reason I can move most of the time and though I have woken up in the ICU on occasion, I am still breathing MG can stop you breathing with very little notice, so I do freely admit I am grateful for that but you must surely admit they taste vile I am however not very grateful for the diabetes the moon face or the 17 stone I ended up weighing.

Oh and to add insult too injury my doctor has stopped my brown inhaler for my Asthma as he reckons with it I was getting too much steroids just ventolin now
 
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Yep, agree about the taste John - bitter doesn't even begin to describe it. Then again, when the gastric probs reared their heads, they gave me the enteric coated version. But like I said, they kept me alive. Obviously I wish to goodness they hadn't left me with the digestive and weak bone issues, but I'd rather have those than be gasping to breathe.
BTW, I know a tiny bit about MG, I had a friend with it many years ago, my daughter was also tested for it (along with loads of other things) when she was a baby. Hope you're doing ok at the moment
 
Thanks ladybird64 yes keeping it at bay for the moment and yes gasping for breathe not a pleasant sensation hope you are doing well also.

John
 
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