I was diagnosed with PMR in November 2013 and started on a course of steroids starting at 20mg
and reducing to 10mg daily in January.
In February I started drinking vast amounts and passing vast amounts of urine sometimes every
hour in the evening.I also found I was rapidly losing weight when my weight had remained the
same for at least 3 years.
But the most worrying symptom was a dramatic deterioration in my eyesight.I visited my
optometrist who did a thorough eyetest and I obtained new single vision spectacles but within 3 days of wearing them my eyesight deteriorated further and I felt weak and giddy.She suggested I might be diabetic as I didn't seem to have GCA as I had no symptoms of it. I got to my GP as
soon as possible and had an immediate blood test which confirmed type 2 diabetes with a
reading of 26.0.My last test in June had a reading of 6.1 .My diabetic nurse think my sudden spikeis due to steriod treatment. With medication my eyesight is now improving and I'm less
exhausted .Unfortunately my PMR symptoms are returning as I no longer take steriods.
Hi Blodwyn, short answer, yes.
Who prescribed your steroids? Was it your GP or a hosp Consultant, you ought to go back to the prescriber.
As mrsmop says - the short answer is yes. Corticosteroids change the way your body metabolises sugar and can lead to raised blood sugar levels - and so to a raised HbA1c over time.
Being diabetic and taking steroids are not mutually exclusive - it just means you have to be more active about controlling the blood sugar level. There are ladies on this forum who have diabetes and continue to take pred - if you have PMR there is little choice at present.
However, the Southend, England rheumatology group have done a pilot study with 23 patients with PMR who needed to reduce their pred for various reasons using leflunomide - and 22 of them went into remission. I have also heard of other rheumatologists getting good results in PMR using it.
This is the Southend paper:
"Efficacy and tolerability of leflunomide in difficult-to-treat polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis: a case series.
Adizie T, Christidis D, Dharmapaliah C, Borg F, Dasgupta B."
As mrsmop says - you need to go back to the GP and if you haven't already seen a specialist rheumatologist you need one now.
Hello Blodwyn
As you have come off steroids in just 3 months, it isn't at all surprising that your PMR symptoms are returning. Many diabetic patients are on Prednisolone and, of course, it has to be managed carefully, but the inflammation of PMR needs to be controlled, whether by Pred or another drug, not only to keep the pain at bay but also to protect you from the risk of GCA and other 'nasties'. As the others have said, you need advice from a good rheumatologist, and sooner rather than later. Good luck.
MrsO
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