Prednisolone&blood sugars

[madonbrew]

Hi, I am just wondering if any one else has problems with their blood sugars when taking prednisolone?!

I have autoimmune chronic pancreatitis and chronic kidney failure...it’s all caused by a rare autoimmune disease called IgG4 systemic disease. Anyhow, when I end up on pred, it always makes my blood sugars go crazy and I have to take insulin. Just checked my blood sugar about 2 hours ago and it just read hi, so took some insulin &rang 111. After 15 mins was 28.3 and another half hour after was 21.6. Then totally strangely, after about 1.4 hours without eating anything,went back up to 30.1.???? Crazy huh!!! So now it’s 11.40pmand the doctor is going to call me again in 2 hours to see what’s happening.

Isn’t it all very strange!

[Bevvy]

It is a known factor of taking steroids that it raises blood sugar levels.

[kdr112]

Yes! When I take steroids I have to take insulin too. I take short acting insulin and check my glucose 6-7 times a day when on insulin. When I am given a burst I split mine into 2 doses instead of 1. My sugar doesn’t go as high then as it does when I take it all at once. Good luck to you! Kathy

[MikeWhite]

Hi, when I was on long term high dose pred, 40-60mg per day high blood sugar was one of the many side affects. While I was in the Brompton after a severe asthma episode my bloods hit 30.

I was told that I had steroid induced diabetes and am now on metformin or gliclazide if in hosp on pred.

Mike

[Larrythelathe]

Hi

I had prednisolone for five years. Yes it made my blood sugar go mad. It's well known side effect, one of many.

[madonbrew]

It’s a right pain isn’t it! The annoying thing is because I have chronic pancreatitis anyway,after all the steroids,it’s sped up the need for full time insulin. In the scheme it’s not too bad,it’s just that on top of everything else!!!

Just having a’I feel sorry for myself’ moment

[Larrythelathe]

I feel your pain. Just keep rolling with the punches and smile about it. Only way

[madonbrew in reply to Larrythelathe]

Thank you!!! I am mainly quite chipper! For some reason the prednisone and this insulin stuff always drives me mad! 😂😂😂

Hey ho!!! Lol...actually on second 111 call about it...it’s reading Hi again after insulin???

[Janet2017]

Hi mandonbrew,

lt's usually a common scenario for one's blood sugar to rise with prolonged use of prednisone but my doctor puts me off prednisone to see the sugar level comes back to normal one or two times that it happened.

Drinking a lot of water can also be of help.Slight exercise helps too .