STEROID TREATMENT

Hi @Deskdoll,

Your G.P. should have instructed you when to take them. If he didn't then you need to phone the surgery and ask.
If this is a temporary treatment then you will have to accept that your blood sugars will be raised but if this is a permanent treatment then your G.P. may suggest some blood glucose lowering medication.

I sometimes have to use them for 8 weeks at a time and find that blood sugars can be erratic but it is the lesser of two evils and diabetes has to take a back seat.

Hope this helps.

Deskdoll said:

Just as I was getting control of my diabetes (LCHF diet and exercising - lost a stone in weight and bs in the low 6's) I was told yesterday, following a blood test, that my autoimmune hepatitis had flared up again and I need to take 30mg of Prednisolone every day, gutted! I understand that this will raise my bs levels but would it be better to take it all in the morning or as 3 x 10mg throughout the day? Has anyone any advice for me? Thanks in advance, DD

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Sorry your AH has flared again.
Taking pred no later than lunch time is advised as it can make people bounce off of the walls and keep them wide a wake. (you not the walls )
If you have major problems with your blood sugars where diet isn't helping then do say to your GP Help I'm running into trouble here.
I take 5mg pred every morning plus Hydrocortisone and notice the steep curve in insulin needs at about 1oAM with the peak at 12 noon.

Agree with Catherine, I was diagnosed diabetic after taking prednisolone for 2 or 3 years and had to be put on insulin to help control my bg levels, I was also overweight which the steroid treatment added to considerably but in my first year of being diabetic while I was using insulin I managed to lose 4 stone (56lb) whilst at the same time weaning myself off insulin and prednisolone, it wasnt easy but I was committed.

If you are just taking pred for a few weeks/months you will just have to accept that your bg levels will be harder to control, I found that 60g carbs a day enabled me to lose weight but of cause I did have the insulin to help me control my bg levels.

Good luck, Im sure youll be OK just ride it out while yo are taking the steroid treatment and watch those fast acting high GI carbs.

Deskdoll said:

Thanks for the advice folks. I haven't seen my GP yet, it was a call at 10pm last night from a very harassed sounding registrar, who advised me of the additional meds I needed but no instuctions! I was so shocked at getting his call at that time I didn't think to ask. Working on the premise that if they are ringing me so late it must be serious. Last time this happened the initial dosage was 60mg, I wasn't so much bouncing off walls more like bouncing round 'tinternet all night, spending loads a money when I couldn't sleep. I spent so much money at such odd hours that my bank fraud dept stopped my cards lol.

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A registrar phoning that late at night doesn't necessarily mean its urgent. He's probably on double shift/on call and that time of the evening its gone quiet so hes catching up with the clinic work. I would phone the GP and check though. In my case I've been on Pred for over 10 years, take it first thing in the morning, my bloods are consistanly high during the day but drop about 3am! Sue xx