So chaps here I am needing advice again!

[Slosh]

I always feel like such a user on this forum - sorry but work full time and then some...

Was down to 6 mg in Dec. Went to SA - landed in hospital with pneumonia - was on high intravenous steroids and other hectic meds.

Started back on my dose (after fiddling a bit) on 10mg in Jan. Currently playing at 7.

Problems:

I am bruising loads. Started taking Vit C more regularly.

Headaches lately

Am worried that I could be heading for diabetes - often feel dizzy, blurry vision then and this feeling of feeling the blood run cold throughout my vascular system.

However I also run low on B12 - have had jabs for about 40 years - the last 3 I had left me feeling so weird - like the above - and I'm frightened to try again - so could be a bit of anaemia.

Also my psoriasis is just nuts!

Appreciate input as usual.

Xxx💞

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Has anyone EVER suggested psoriatic arthritis? It can present identically to PMR. And some forms of spondyloarthropathy can lead to symptoms very like GCA.

arthritis.org/about-arthrit...

And why suspect diabetes with PMR, headache and other GCA-like symptoms such as blurry vision? Diabetes is easy enough to rule out - get your Hba1c level checked, it should be anyway. GCA not so much ...

The bruising may be the culmination of the short-term high dose steroids and the ongoing more moderate oral doses.

[Slosh in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you for that - never considered it.

[Hidden]

Hi you can get bloods tested for diabetes and b12/anemia. Is it pernicious anemia?

I think the idea is that people should use the forum for advice and information. 😁

[Slosh in reply to Hidden]

I know but I give very little - just always asking.

My B12 tests will be skewed as I take it every day - currently trying sub lingual.

My Hba1c was creeping up on las test.

[Hidden in reply to Slosh]

Perhaps get bloods checked again. The blurry vision and dizziness can be related to diabetes. I have have chills too relating to high and low blood glucose, but I wouldn't describe them as cold in vascular system. Do sub lingual work as well as injections?

Hope you feel better soon.

[Slosh in reply to Hidden]

Thank you.

No sublinguals do not work as well as injections.

I have actually bought a blood glucose monitor from Amazon. Not used yet - a bit scared and also been so busy to even set it up.

When should I test?

Xxx

[Hidden in reply to Slosh]

First thing in the morning before breakfast or pred. That gives you a fasting level. Somewhere between 4 and 8 is what you are looking for. However if you are at 8ish then get your hba1c done . The Lancet numbers relate to needle length. I started at 2 a few years ago, it never hurt me and I am a needle phobic who has to inject twice a day now ,(typical). It seems scary but hold it firmly against your finger and try not to jump when it clicks! It gives you a few seconds to put the blood on the test strip so don't panic. Make sure your fingers are spotlessly clean. Good luck.

I thought sub lingual wasn't as effective. My gran had monthly injections then they tried her on sub lingual s but she had to go back too hectic schedule.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

In fact click the Lancet a few times before you put it against your finger then you get used to it.

[Slosh in reply to Hidden]

Thanks - did mine now before dinner to practice - was 4.6

[Hidden in reply to Slosh]

For me that would be low but I have done members of my family who don't have any issues and they were in 4s. How did you feel at the time??

[Slosh in reply to Hidden]

I was feeling ok.

[Hidden in reply to Slosh]

Good. That test not a problem. Try a test two hours after eating a meal. Just trying to get you some baselines to work with.

[Slosh in reply to Hidden]

So at one hour after meal - it was 5.8.

One hour 20 minutes after - it was 5.

[Hidden in reply to Slosh]

Perfect. They seems "normal". I would be 8 to 10 after meals. You're still bang in the middle.

[Hidden in reply to Slosh]

A pre pred and pre breakfast one will give you fuller picture but I wouldn't be worried.

[Slosh in reply to Hidden]

Thanks

[Slosh in reply to Hidden]

I have my Pred at 10:30 to 11 at night.

[Hidden in reply to Slosh]

That's fine. It will probably have spiked in the night then.

[Slosh in reply to Hidden]

So it was 5.8 this morning???

[Hidden in reply to Slosh]

Hi slosh. That is slightly above what I would expect for fasting (less than 5.6) so the pred is pushing you a bit higher. I would just make some changes to diet. Fewer processed carbs if you eat and carbs in general. Hopefully that's what a Dr would advise, though they are often behind current thinking on glucose control! I think then do a fasting check once a month. Technically you are entering prediabetes but with small changes and as you reduce pred it should go into "normal".

Just so you have a guide, my fasting hba1c at diagnosis 20yrs ago was 18.1. Now they use a different measure for hba1c with normal less than @40s. After I had been in pred 8months mine was 114.

[Slosh in reply to Hidden]

Wow! So I ate at 7ish but had a Chocolate at 9 😬. Could that have caused it?

I will be more careful. My diet is generally low carb but I LOVE chocolate and generally crave it in the evening.

[Hidden in reply to Slosh]

In the morning more likely last night's pred. You have to have something nice otherwise what's the point! I think a few people here have dark chocolate but limit to a price a night. Once you don't have it for a but you stop craving it.

[Slosh in reply to Hidden]

I didn't eat brekkie - got involved and before I knew it- it was 12 and I started feeling weird. took blood sugar - it was 4.3 - ate and at 12:20 and took sugar again at 2:15 - it was 6.5.

Sorry for bombarding you with all this.

[Hidden in reply to Slosh]

No problem. There may be others who also have BG issues. I think you are probably bang on with those levels. It looks like it's a morning pred spike though missing breakfast not good😉

Diabetes UK say:

For the majority of healthy individuals, normal blood sugar levels are as follows: Between 4.0 to 5.4 mmol/L (72 to 99 mg/dL) when fasting. Up to 7.8 mmol/L (140 mg/dL) 2 hours after eating

At lunch you had effectively fadted.

[Slosh in reply to Hidden]

Does moving around change it. When I woke up it was 5.7 and hour later (with just some water and a few sips of ginger water it is 4.7 - I hope I am not being bothersome.

[Hidden in reply to Slosh]

No prob. Exercise can. But suspect it's the spike from pred dropping.

[Hidden in reply to Slosh]

diabetes.co.uk/hba1c-units-...

[Hidden in reply to Slosh]

I found that my meter average was only a point or two away from hba1c over past 19yrs. If you test a few times in a month then look at your averages it will hopefully tell you what's going on.

[Rose54 in reply to Slosh]

I check mine before Breakfast on a Sunday morning and keep a record of it .

Thier easy to use but the testing sticks are expensive so hence once a week .

Most of my Family are Diabetic hence me being so careful

[Hidden in reply to Rose54]

Free prescriptions for them and Me then. I would be bankrupt if I had to pay for all the things I take.

[Rose54 in reply to Hidden]

I am lucky in the fact that I have thyroid disease so have had free Prescription for years.

What a thought lucky to have a illness

65 now so free anyway

[Hidden in reply to Rose54]

I was a minute or two trying not to say fortunately and lucky for me. Lol.

[Slosh in reply to Rose54]

I also have Hashimotos - 62 so free meds.

[PMR2011 in reply to Slosh]

“So busy to even set it up”...sounds like you need to slow down! Could some of this be stress related and is there a way for you to de-stress? Stress feeds into AI diseases and diabetes. Hope you’re able to figure it out.

[Slosh in reply to PMR2011]

Yes I do need to slow down and hate winter - really struggle. Thanks

[PMRpro Ambassador]

PS, forgot to say - everyone is a user here. Even your question may help someone else - who may not have realised they need to ask it or didn't have the courage to put finger to keyboard ...

[Slosh in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks - makes me feel better.

[Slosh]

Thanks for your input and concern.

[Slosh]

Ok - yes I had. Had only had water and lemon and I cup of coffee at about 9 am.

Thank you for your help. Xx

[Daffodilia]

Good news to be down to 10 mg of preds but all the best with your other troubles