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💞
Written by
Slosh
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Has anyone EVER suggested psoriatic arthritis? It can present identically to PMR. And some forms of spondyloarthropathy can lead to symptoms very like GCA.
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.
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?
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.
• in reply to
In fact click the Lancet a few times before you put it against your finger then you get used to it.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
“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.
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 ...
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Return of pain . Needing advice . 
I think I have a problem again…
Am I imagining this?
Here we go again.....
Am I overdoing it?
