Blood sugar spikes and diabetes. Info please.

Hi, I've been reading posts about blood sugar spikes on Prednisolone. This is all new to me. Please can someone tell me more about this. I have a strong family history of late onset type 2 diabetes and if I am at risk from being on Pred I want to do what I can to offset it. Thanks, Jane.

[Koalajane]

hi, I think you have forgotten that you asked about this on here when you were first diagnosed.

As it says prednisolone can give random glucose spikes, and therefore it is a good idea to cut your carb intake

[Hidden in reply to Koalajane]

Yes I had forgotten, my memory is terrible 🥴

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

Often part of the PMR and the pred.

[Grammy80 in reply to Hidden]

LittleJane, it is far better to ask twice....and have the info....and you received some good answers!!!💞

[Bramble2000 in reply to Koalajane]

Do you know what your average blood sugar is? Ask for a blood test. Our blood sugars spike often for various reasons but unless you know what your blood sugar is doing, you can’t really treat it. X

[Koalajane in reply to Bramble2000]

I know what my hba1c is yes or are you asking LittleJane?

[Bramble2000 in reply to Koalajane]

I was asking you.

[Koalajane in reply to Bramble2000]

I have annual hba1c tests, last one was 38

[Bramble2000 in reply to Koalajane]

Sorry meant little Jane

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Pred makes the liver release random spikes of glucose from the body stores in liver and muscle. The higher the dose of pred the more likely it is to happen but it doesn't happen to everyone and it isn't the same as Type 2 diabetes and it doesn't mean you will develop it. What does happen is that the average BS level over time may rise. The only thing you can do is control the contribution your diet makes to blood sugar levels by cutting carbs, especially processed carbs, added sugar and limit root veg and fruit. But taht works for most people.

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks, sorry to repeat the same question.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

It's fine. Everyone takes time to learn it all.

[Sillydogsmum]

As long as your fasting blood sugars are checked regularly and your HbA1C is checked if these are abnormal, and you stick to a low carb diet , more to keep your weight down than anything else, you cant really do much better in terms of prevention. Go into it any further and you risk taking yourself down a garden path you can do without.........suggest you leave that to other folks and the established diabetics amongst us.

[Hidden in reply to Sillydogsmum]

Thanks for posting. My weight is still ok. The doc I saw who gave me the original reducing plan said there was not enough of me and I needed some calories (her words). Hubby said that he thought she would be in trouble if she spoke like that to someone who was overweight.I will stop worrying about it or my eating disorder will flare up.

Good night all 🛌

[Sophiestree in reply to Hidden]

Your husband is absolutely right.

[Miacaro45]

I went through this when I was on a very high dose of Prednisone for GCA before I got PMR. Just watch your in take of carbs-processed foods, sugar and the like. And, of course, stay in touch with your doctor.

[Pixix]

just wondering if you’ve had a read of the FAQs on this forum? It looks as if you want to read & read all about it, & they contain a wealth of information! I have been pre diabetic twice so far in 4 years, with steroid induced diabetes, & beaten it back each time with 5he keto diet (a subject also covered in the FAQs! Sadly, they now think I am diabetic, which will be the unlucky number 13 in my diagnoses in the past few years. Most people with PMR go onto a low carb diet.

[Hidden in reply to Pixix]

Thank you, travelling today. I will look when I get home

Sorry to be stupid, where are the FAQs please?

[Pixix in reply to Hidden]

From the home page of the forum, If you select ‘posts’, then ‘pinned posts’, you will find them all. They are then under alphabetic, eg a - f etc. There are some subjects that come up so often inPMR, & a lovely lady, Mrs Nails, did a lot of work, along with our stalwarts, to put all the info together. The other thing you can do is use the search field…eg diet & PMR, diabetes, weight gain, etc etc, & then you will gain another wealth of info! Happy reading!

[Hidden in reply to Pixix]

Thank you

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Hidden]

FAQs are a feature banner under first post on this page - and suggest when you have them, then save them, or at least the ones you want. Then they are always accessible.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

Hope the traffic is kind!!

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

No, sadly it was not 😕

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

Oh dear, not even halfterm yet!!! I have become very relaxed about heavy traffic. Having an automatic makes a difference and I don't mind having to drive slowly!!!!

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

It wasn't the slow driving, it was the sitting going nowhere that was irksome. Too much traffic, roadworks, breakdowns ( not us), an accident (again not us) But we got home eventually 🙂

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Hidden]

Roads always bonkers on a Friday down south… whatever time of year… 😳

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

If I'm stopped - I switch off the engine (it does so automatically anyway), watch the vehicle a few in front for it being ready to move off and listen to music. You can't change it so you might as well embrace it. Bit like PMR ...

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

Our car does that too

[Charlie1boy]

Hi,

There are so many things to learn when first diagnosed with pmr, and I, amongst many others, got spooked by the possibility of steroid induced diabetis.

However, I had no reason to panic, as a blood test by my GP some several months into my journey showed no problems at all - thankfully.

There’s lots going on for you at the moment, but I would say “just try to hang loose”. Easier said than done maybe!

Good luck

Paddy

[Hidden in reply to Charlie1boy]

Thank you Paddy 🙂