More steps forward..more steps back

[Kael-gca]

Update on my current challenges (never problems)!

With regard to my UTI problem, I had the dreaded camera investigation yesterday (it wasn't so bad) and all looks healthy. Good news but does not explain why I have this dull ache in the groin and frequent UTI's. Urologist suggests it is the steroids. Not sure if this is a step forward or back!

The pain in my leg has gone which was agonising for several days. Hobbled around on a stick, could not drive, maxing out on pain killers. Still no idea of the cause. I did fear it was PMR as the symptoms were similar to what I had read. Maybe I had just hurt the muscle while doing some exercises (gentle ones mind you). Or was it linked to the groin issue and the antibiotics helped. Step forward!

Making progress on Preds. Tapering down to 30mg. Step forward!

However.. blood test shows I am borderline diabetic. Advised to go on an assessment/prevention course. Anyone advise on how much the meds are affecting this and can I get back from the brink. Step back definitely.

Weather's good though and I can get out in the garden.

[SheffieldJane]

If you mean the borderline diabetes 2. I am afraid the side effects of Prednisalone do include this. A number of people have controlled it with diet alone. You should get all the tips you need on your awareness raising classes.

I have had an irritated bladder on and off with PMR with no infection present. I think it is linked to Pred just like the indigestion. I try to avoid acidic food and drinks for both. The weather is so cheering though. Crocuses out everywhere!

[Longtimer]

I resisted going to the prevention course and did it myself...cut out all obvious sugar, also white carbs.....lost 20lbs in weight and reversed what was happening. I do now eat some carbs in smaller portions, but only rice etc, not biscuits and cakes....or bread.....I found it easier than I thought it would be by planning ahead....hope this helps.....

[Slowdown]

Hello - I can testify to the positive role of diet in controlling steroid-induced Type 2 diabetes. After an HbA1c test I had a reading of 57 (7.4% or 9.2mmol, I find these numbers are confusing, but I was definitely in diabetic range). I was already following a Low Carb/High Fat lifestyle (don't think of it as a diet, you'll immediately start thinking of all the things you 'can't have' rather than enjoying what you can) and simply cut the carbs further, piled on the green veg, yogurt, kefir, fish, olive oil; anything sweet was already off the plate and I bought 85% dark chocolate rather then 70%. The bread habit was difficult at first but fortuitously this programme The Truth about Carbs was aired - here are some notes taken from it. bbc.co.uk/programmes/articl...

This is a very useful site if you decide to go for the low carb approach. dietdoctor.com/low-carb

I managed to go from 57 to 49 and my GP phoned to tell me the good news! I hope you find something here to whet your appetite, so to speak...

[PMRpro Ambassador]

If you are still pre-diabetes (or even diabetes) you can inch back by restricting white and processed carbs a lot. Some people have reduced their Hba1c level by several points just by doing that.

Pred causes the liver to release random spikes of glucose into the blood and that, obviously, increases the average BS level as measured by the Hba1c blood test. This is probably also why people gain weight on pred: the BS spike triggers release of insulin which then isn't used because it isn't a meal needing the insulin to digest the carbs and the excess insulin encourages deposits of glucose as fat stores in the usual places. Reduce the carbs that are released quickly into the bloodstream and there is less of a problem.

If you are lucky the awareness class will be of the latest persuasion: cut carbs! Unfortunately the NHS message is still rather mixed.

[Kael-gca]

As always..extremely helpful replies. Thanks to all. My HbA1c score was 47 so I will digest the information and work on not digesting so many carbs. A step forward I believe. Happy weekend all.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Kael-gca]

DiabetesUK says

"Remission is when a person with Type 2 diabetes has healthy blood glucose (also called sugar) levels for the long-term, without taking any diabetes medications. We’re working with international experts to agree this, but our researchers used an HbA1c level of 48mmol/mol (6.5%) or less to define remission."

So you are pre-diabetes and it really shouldn't be too difficult to get it a bit lower. More above ground veg and less root veg and fruit and avoid white processed carbs should be a good start. Once you reduce carbs you want them less after a few weeks - I find "normal" sweetening levels excessively sweet now.