Hello! I was diagnosed with PMR two weeks ago...& then told one week ago that I have diabetes. I have been suffering with fibromyalgia for about 8 years, with osteoarthritis for five years, mainly in my hands and feet. As you can imagine I’m feeling fairly overwhelmed at the moment. I’m overweight due to taking lots of steroids to control multiple winter chest infections (I am on antibiotics for five months each year to help prevent these). As you can see, my immune system was already suffering before these latest diagnoses! I started the Keto diet today!
PMR & Fibromyalgia & diabetes & osteoarthritis & ... - PMRGCAuk
PMR & Fibromyalgia & diabetes & osteoarthritis & chest infections!
Written by
Pixix
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
60 Replies
•
PMRproAmbassador
Welcome and good luck with the diet!
Thanks, I need it, the steroids are making me extra hungry, a hard time to diet!
I started with the 5:2 diet to reset my portion size expectations - worked well. Then I cut the carbs, Not entirely - I eat loads of salad and above ground veggies. But NO processed stuff 99% of the time. But I do have a treat very occasionally.
I meant to ask - you say "Keto diet". What do you mean by that? How extreme?
Yes I tried 5:2 last year and it worked well...but then we went on holiday & it all slipped! I’m on no processed stuff, high fat, as little as possible carbs. I like meat and cheese, & fish, so hoping this one works. Yes above ground veggies, plenty of them. No potatoes bread pasta rice pastry etc etc. See how my willpower lasts, certainly being told I’m prediabetic has stirred me into action, but being new to PMR I’m reading how to incorporate anti inflammatory diet items, too. Main problem is fluids, I hate plain water drinking, I don’t drink tea or coffee, I have been drinking squash & fruit juices, low sugar ones, a lot, so that’s ended!
What about the concept of flavoured water? Not suggesting the bought ones, loaded with sugar, but crushing mint or a slice of lemon into a glass of water makes a big difference to the taste. And maybe try herbal or spice teas which you can drink hot/warm or cold? It is often a case of trying until you find one - I didn't go a bundle on them until I tried a whole range - you also need to be sure they are strong enough to reduce the need for sugar.
Thanks. Added lemons to this weeks shopping list, and I’ve never liked those teas except with a spoon of sugar and know some are fruit based ie sugar, but will look into green tea & try a few, good advice, thanks!
Hi pixix, I have fibro, pmr, diabetes oa etc....
What was your hba1c? I wondered how you were defining keto diet. I do low carb, high fat prob 80% of the time. Its doable if you are not adopting a punishing regime. I am veggie so full keto would be hard to sustain. Have an honest talk with yourself about how you would manage a lifetime of eating the full keto way. I lost over 2 cand a half stones doing low carb. I used the diabetes UK website for inspiration at first. 🌻
It is actually almost impossible to achieve full ketosis when you are on pred - the random release of glucose from the liver into the blood messes it up.
• in reply toPMRpro
Once there's a spike there's a spike I suppose.
The body doesn't care WHY there is glucose present, but it will trigger insulin production in response. Then if it was because you had a Crunchie bar it can take days to regain ketosis...
• in reply toPMRpro
Mmmm... crunchie
KNEW I shouldn't have mentioned that ... 
• in reply toPMRpro
I think it would be too much sugar for anyone. It does make me think of cinder toffee from childhood.
Longtimer• in reply to
Made me think of honeycomb bars when I was a child.........haven't seen them for years!!
Pixix• in reply to
Ooh and it’s bonfire night & just watched our neighbours fireworks for their grandchildren, wonder if they’ve got any!
Oh no....no Crunchies! If desperate a square of cheese. I appreciate that the body doesn’t care why there is glucose but guess it’s up to me to provide it with none!
You CAN'T compare a Crunchie with a square of cheese - you just CAN'T! 😂😂
• in reply toConstance13
😂😂😂 But dolcelata with mascapone on a sourdough cracker comes close.
Constance13• in reply to
No it doesn't!!🧐
• in reply toConstance13
🤣🤣🤣 Can you get crunchies?
Constance13• in reply to
Yes, from a British food shop here in Germany. And I DO - every other time I order something (about every two months that means)!😂
Ah...didn’t realise you are in Germany!
Pixix• in reply to
Oh yes!
Pixix• in reply to
I am a cheeseaholic...but if I’m honest I would love love love to eat the dolce latte but then be happy to follow it up with half a Crunchie bar! I’ve never eaten a whole Crunchie in one day...ever!
Wow!😂
NOW you're talking
Just had roast veggies with Brie and hummus 
• in reply toPMRpro
Yum. Might roast some chick peas for supper.
That I haven't tried - how?
• in reply toPMRpro
Dried tinned chickpeas off and put on roasting tray and drizzle olive oil. 150fan for 15 to 20mins or until darker. I like to put lemon juice drizzle, paprika and pepper on before cooking but don't mind slightly bitter taste. Usually they say roast then cover in your preferred spices. They are crispy if you eat then but chewy if you eat the day after.
• in reply toPMRpro
My kind of food
Ah, now that I didn’t know at all, thanks. Nowt I can do about that, hopefully when I get to reduce the Pred it maybhelp a bit.
Just wondered if you were going the whole hog and measuring urine ketones with dipstix. And warning you it isn't worth it! But it does work for most people even so.
No, not at the moment. It’s my first high blood sugar level ever, but I am over my heaviest weight ever, and hope that If I lose some weight then eat less sugar foods in the future I may fight it. My Aunt is Type 2, borderline type 1 and frightened of injecting, I guess it’s possibly in the genes.
• in reply toPixix
Type 2 and 1 are different. You can be dx as type 1 (auto immune) after but one doesn't turn into the other. I am type2 since 2001. The pred raised my blood glucose so I had to go on insulin but I believe I will be back to metformin and diet eventually as my hba1c has dropped from 114 to 45 since insulin and low carb. I have had a life long phobia of needles and injections but out of the now 100s of self injections I have done about 3 have pricked and hurt. After a week it becomes second nature. Usually peoe can put weight on with insulin but I suspect its because they eat what they like and just raise insulin.
If you loose an inch or two from your tummy it makes a bit different if you are prediabetic.
Pixix• in reply to
Did say I had a lot to learn, sorry. My Aunt is then Type 2 but has not got good results lately & was told she will have to inject soon if no improvement. I mistakenly thought that injecting folk were all Type 1. I am going to read it all up next, Ive been too busy reading up PMR.
• in reply toPixix
Don't worry... 19yrs in front of you! They do use a drug called byetta that you use twice a day. The good thing is it has no driving implications. Please tell your aunt I felt so much better once I went on insulin. You don't realise how much highblood sugar wreaks havoc on how you feel. The needles are barely visible but low carb might help her our too.
Pixix• in reply to
I will tell my Aunt, thanks. Problem is she is 88 and she’d rather risk her health & eat what she wants! She only really cut out the right things after her doctor said she’d have to start injecting...about six years after diagnosis!
• in reply toPixix
To be honest I don't think I would worry what I ate either at 88, unless not eating it improved quality of life significantly. Tbey told me I would probably need insulin in 8years in 2001. It took pred to push it up.
Pixix• in reply to
Yes I quite understood and respected her decision. But she started feeling bad and now she is being good she can feel the difference! I think she will be good for a while, bad at Christmas etc etc and yo-yo a bit. She lost her husband (my uncle) last year, so it’s not been easy for her.
• in reply toPixix
I just got this news cast from diabetes UK..
diabetes.co.uk/news/2019/oc...
Pixix• in reply to
Thanks very much!
Pixix• in reply to
It’s basically high fat, low as poss carbohydrates, punishing at first just to get away from the diabetes! Luckily I love meat cheese & fish, it must be truly impossible for a veggie, good for you in trying. I don’t think it’s for life...I’m hoping to do sufficient to reverse thevprediabetes, then I will go onto 5:2, which I believe is more doable as a lifestyle! Congrats on your weight loss. Thanks for the web site, too. I’ve been so busy reading up PMR that I haven’t yet found time to read up diabetes so much. Both coming at once was unexpected to say the least!! I have an appointment next week with my doctor to discuss the levels & risks etc & discuss the PMR & steroids in more depth. I’ve joined this site to find out more and to see how people cope! Hoping to find somebody with Fibromyalgia & Polymyalgia & osteoarthritis & lung problems who is also prediabetic!!
• in reply toPixix
There's nothing like getting a job lot of conditions is there!
Pixix• in reply to
Nah....feel a bit greedy, really! Some of the time my sense of humour is still there, but right now it’s hard to find.,, one hour on phone to travel insurance Company & other admin has left me a little fed up. But just had my first Keto bread for lunch, I’ve tasted worse things!
Good for you Pixix for starting the keto diet! It has to feel good to know you have some control over this stuff. Keep up the good work!
I only have PMR, diabetes type 2 and macular oedema. I put my type 2 into remission 6 months after going on LCHF diet. Unfortunately my macular oedema doesn’t seem to know my diabetes is in remission (last hba1c was 35) and due to sugar spikes from the steroids is still ongoing. To try and reduce the sugar spikes I decided to cut out lunch as this is the time the steroids spike my sugars. I think this is how I get the low hba1c. I also test my sugars every morning before breakfast and just before my dinner at 5pm. I did lose about 3 stone in weight. I do my 10,000 steps every day as well.
Good luck to you. I have been eating the Keto bread which is so easy to make.
Wow, you’ve done so well. Thanks for sharing this with me, it gives me hope that this diet is worthwhile. Saddened me to learn that your macular oedema is bad, I have yet to learn about steroids & sugars. I normally hike three times a week for an hour, but haven’t been well enough these last three weeks & all it does here is rain! Must get my steps monitor back out c wear it daily. Thanks, the Keto bread was OK, better than I thought it would be!
That’s quite overwhelming but you do sound positive. My husband was diagnosed prediabetic about 2.5 years ago. He was fairly overweight but fit with a sweet tooth. He did have several episodes of reactive arthritis.
It did scare him. He cut out all processed food and white carbs. He lost weight quite quickly and went from about 14.5 stone to 10.5. He was retested and was not prediabetic 6 months later.
At first he was really hungry. But as his body got used to not expecting sugar that got better. He doesn’t crave sweet things now.
Also he hasn’t hardly been ill with coughs or colds and he was always getting them before.
He didn’t do keto diet but I think principles are the same. He tried to fill up on green leafy things.
Looking back he was shocked how much sugar he ate. At work there were always biscuits etc.
Good luck with it. Pred is hard on top of things.
Maybe try and have little rewards for yourself.
Thanks very much. I’m really trying hard to stay positive but finding it tough. I’m getting so tired each day, and still spend part of every day feeling like I have flu & definitely going to die! But it’s only been 2 weeks for PMR & prediabetes so I’m trying to br patient. Your husband has done really well indeed, congrats to him. I need to lose a couple of stone as I’m carrying a lot of excess weight which I put on during the last long term Pred use! I didn’t really realise how much sugar is used in processed foods, they are now banned!
All best to you. Small steps and all that. 💚
Not what you're looking for?
You may also like...
PMR AND Fibromyalgia?!
Would certainly appreciate your experience if anyone of you have been suffering from Fibromyalgia...
PMR or Fibromyalgia?
PMR or Fibromyalgia?
Following a telephone consultation with a new Rheumotologist back in August I...
PMR or Fibromyalgia
I was diagnosed with PMR 5.5 years ago. My rheumatologist has never believed it was PMR even though...
Chest infections
Hi - this is my first post but I have been reading all your posts for some time now and always with...
Pain from PMR or Osteoarthritis?
I was diagnosed with PMR 6 years ago, and got down to 5mg Pred about 3 years ago. I’ve tried to go...
Related Posts
PMR.. Osteoarthritis...
Pmr/vit d deficiency 
PMR. Fibromyalgia 
PMR on to osteoarthritis. 
Suspected PMR Moderation team
SophieMBPartner
Fran_BensonPartner
