Steroids and blood sugar

daffy1

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For a couple of years now I’ve had recurringing coughs and colds . Literally just getting over one then a new one starts with sore throat, following by a hacking cough. Being especially bad at night needing an inhaler and having to sleep wit for pillows.
Long story short I had to see the GP regarding something else and he commented on my cough and said I needed antibiototics and a strong dose of steroids. Didn’t think anything about it till the chemist remarked you have to take 6 at a time on a morning along with antibiotics. By the end of he day my sugars were ul at 24 . I’m reSon,able well controlled now I’m on insulin and if it spikes I can usually blame myself. But this concerned me. However they had gone back down the following morning. So I thought a blip. The same thing happened over the next couple of days so I upped my insulin by a couple of units. Fortunatly this is my last day of them and they are already up at 24 5 hours after a bowl of sugar free cereals . I don’t want to bother the doc about this but is it normal to get spikes like this on steroids and if I need it again should I take any preventative measures
Must admit they have worked for the chest tho . I’m not using the inhaler anything like as much

Thanks for reading
 
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lovinglife

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5,707
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Yes unfortunately steroids are notorious for raising blood sugars even in someone without diabetes- they can also give you a massive appetite and cravings - hubby is just coming to the end of a 3 month course and he has gained weight even though he’s been very careful with his diet (he’s not diabetic but usually eats low carb to keto as it helps his colloid colitis for which he’s just had the steroids for after a flare up)

Hopefully now you’ve finished your course your numbers will start to come back down and you’ll feel better
 
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daffy1

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Yes unfortunately steroids are notorious for raising blood sugars even in someone without diabetes- they can also give you a massive appetite and cravings - hubby is just coming to the end of a 3 month course and he has gained weight even though he’s been very careful with his diet (he’s not diabetic but usually eats low carb to keto as it helps his colloid colitis for which he’s just had the steroids for after a flare up)

Hopefully now you’ve finished your course your numbers will start to come back down and you’ll feel better
Thanks for the reply I have since read upon it and it did say it can take a few days after stopping for the steroids to get out of your system then hopefully the sugars should drop.
 
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fumanchu

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376
Type of diabetes
Family member
Treatment type
Diet only
I'm not diabetic, my hubby is. But I've got Addisons Disease and am on life long steroids to keep me alive. I often test myself to see what's going on, and I'm usually up in the high 6s which isn't normal for a non-diabetic. It's the steroids. You'll be fine once you finish yours Daffy xx