Anybody else ever have this happen?

[Lanakay]

I think I have diabetes or I’m hypoglycemic or something. I have an appointment with my primary care doctor on Tuesday. I have gained about 40 pounds since beginning prednisone. I am having timed that I break out in a sweat and feel really weird like I m going to pass out and my legs don’t want to hol me up. I eat something sugary and it subsided after awhile. When it happens I get really scared. I’m anxious for my appointment Tuesday. I want to get this thing figurestout. I’m still on 7mg prednisone and doing a very slow taper. Anybody else ever have this happen?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

While you have been on pred you should have been monitored for steroid-induced diabetes as it is a common side effect of steroids.

We frequently suggest to people with weight problems while on pred to cut carbs drastically and that also helps reduce the risk of steroid-induced diabetes - pred changes the way your body processes carbs and makes your liver release spikes of glucose into the bloodstream. This triggers the release of insulin to deal with the sugar - and the high spike of sugar falls, but without there being more sugar from food to use it up. So your BS falls too far - and you may feel you are hypoglycaemic, eating sugar makes you feel better. Overall, these spikes oand the spikes due to eating carbs all add up and increase a measure called Hba1c which is an indicator of your average BS over the previous 3 months.

Far better is to cut carbs drastically - which reduces the spikes of BS and the resulting swings up and then down in response to insulin.

[Lanakay in reply to PMRpro]

I weighed 138 pounds when this started and wore a size 8. Now I’ve gained 40 pounds.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Lanakay]

I also gained 38lbs, partly due to PMR and inactivity and partly due to one form of corticosteroid. I lost it all even while still on 10-15mg pred by cutting carbs. I don't suggest things that haven't worked for at least some people.

[artfingers in reply to PMRpro]

PMRpro, I wonder if the type of prednisone could be monkeyed with then, to help with weight loss? I know you have mentioned it before, but somehow it didn't sink in till your comment above. I'm only at 3 pred and 3 Rayos (6 total) a day, but curious nonetheless.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to artfingers]

I doubt it really - it was more that Medrol (methylprednisolone) obviously posed major absorption problems (or something). I got up to 20mg taken at night - if I took it in the morning it did nothing before I got to bed!! Taking it at night I was almost mobile by lunchtime. But it had no problem causing side effects: black beard, weight gain, florid Cushing's, hair like a brillo pad and awful skin!

But it is definitely worth asking to try a different form if one doesn't work as well as you would like.

Weight loss is as individual as anything else - with low carb my weight loss happens but is slow. Others have cut carbs and lose weight like normal people...

[Longtimer]

I was a month ago diagnosed with prediabetes, all I can say is leading up to that I felt even more fatigued than usual and low. In 6 years I have gained 8 pounds, but it has still happened.....

[SnazzyD]

Hello,

Sounds like just as PMRPro has described. I used to get this on higher doses and years ago before all this. You eat in order to make yourself feel better from the glucose low with more sugar so your body overreacts because sugar sloshing about in the bloodstream isn’t good for it. You end up on a rollercoaster. Meanwhile the insulin clears the sugar out and you make it into fat and on goes the weight. It is very common indeed, eg the coffe and cake/chocolate mid morning that many people need to pep themselves up before lunch. Once off any sort of sugar and low or no carbs this all stops, but it takes a bit of faith. A snack of nuts or protein will stop the wild fluctuations and even out your blood sugar. A low blood sugar makes one feel panicky and sweaty, unwell or tired so a sugary antidote is very seductive.

[SheffieldJane]

I think you are very sensible to have this checked out, as you probably know it is a side effect of steroid use ( steroid induced diabetes). You seem quite anxious too ( another side effect) this can make everything feel alarming. I have to keep a check on my imagination because it can run riot. I am not saying that you are imagining these funny turns. I hope your doctor gets to the bottom of it. I think we spoke about Adrenal Glands needing to wake up before, at our dose of Pred. I certainly feel quite swoony with tiredness at times. My doctor’s are watching my blood sugar levels too, they are a bit high. Sometimes chocolate does do the trick. I know what you mean.

[Mahnahvu]

I agree you should be checked out by a doctor. It does sound like low blood sugar. Blood glucose testing equipment is readily available and not especially costly. If you can't get in to the doctor right away, you might monitor your blood sugar levels yourself to see what is going on.

[Lanakay]

Thank you. I have an appointment Tuesday morning. I gotta feel better! My husband is diabetic so I have been testing. The results are all over the place. I will be glad when it’s time for my appointment.

[artfingers]

As one who has hypoglycemia (had it most of my life as do most my family) and PMR, it can be handled as PMRPro says, with diet. I watch for that shaky feeling though, and have learned ways to handle and prevent it. If I work out or exercise, I have to make sure to time when I do it to be after I ate a meal not when I haven't eaten for a long while. Good luck.