This is my first post to you. I have Polymyalgia Rheumatica and therefore am on 12.5mg Prednisolone every day.
But it has put my Ha1c up to 51 and therefore I am now officially a person with type 2 Diabetes. But, I have no Diabetes symptoms and I feel very well and energetic in myself, even though I am a young 78. Should I worry? My doctor thinks it’s to do with the steroids I’m taking, but you are the experts, so I am hoping to hear from you please!
Hello, I may have polymyalgia so I was interested in your post. You put a question mark against the letter H. I am still ignorant to any terminology other sufferers mention or are familiar with, so am trying to get to grips with everything this awful condition entails. What does H mean please? I hope others answer your post so that you get the answers you need to help yourself.
Sorry, as I am new to this, couldn't remember the technical term for diabetes count. If I look at the next contribution - there it is - HbA1c!
Hi RoadRunner44 and Silver-Babe ,
The H in ha1c is Hemoglobin. 😀👍
Thanks for replying. I'm learning as I go along.
You’re welcome! Please let me or the other Admins. know if you have any questions about anything. We’ll be happy to answer them to the best of our abilities.😀👍
Very comforting. Thank you.
Anytime!😀👍
I too have PMR and my blood sugars went up after diagnosis and taking 15mg. I think my hba1c was higher. I was put on gliclazide and started a low carb high fat diet. Six months later I was taken off meds as my hba1c had dropped to 39. That was 4 years ago and my type 2 has been in remission since then. I know from testing my bloods that my sugars rise 4 hours after taking prednisolone and drop about 5 hours later
Well Koalajane, thank you for this very interesting information. I haven't yet seen a diabetic doctor, because I now have a type of colitis too and they are not sure whether the infection from that is causing a high ESR (Polymyalgia) and a high HbA1c count (diabetes) So I am to see a rheumatologist to see if she can sort out all this mess. But fascinated to read that I should perhaps not have a blood test four hours after taking pred - but would that be regarded as cheating?
"Without treatment, Poly myalgia rheumatica (PMR) does not get better. However, low doses of corticosteroids (such as prednisone, 10 to 20 mg per day) can ease symptoms, often within a day or two.
The dose should then be slowly reduced to a very low level.
Treatment needs to continue for 1 to 2 years. In some people, even longer treatment with low doses of prednisone is needed.
Corticosteroids can cause many side effects such as weight gain, development of diabetes or osteoporosis. You need to be watched closely if you are taking these medicines. If you are at risk for osteoporosis, your health care provider may recommend you take medicines to prevent this condition.
For most people, PMR goes away with treatment after 1 to 2 years. You might be able to stop taking medicines after this point, but check with your provider first.
For some people, symptoms return after they stop taking corticosteroids. In these cases, another medicine such as methotrexate or tocilizumab may be needed.
Giant cell arteritis may also be present or can develop later. If this is the case, the temporal artery would need to be evaluated.
More severe symptoms can make it harder for you to work or take care of yourself at home."(2)
Links:-(1) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polym...
(2) medlineplus.gov/ency/articl...
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