Have been on preds for 22 months - suffered most of the side effects am now down to 7 mg - from 60 mg originally. Last week I had a blood test and the result showed I had type 2 diabetes - I am not overweight (5ft l" and 9st.) Could the preds have caused the diabetes? I also suffer now from fluid retention - am I alone ?
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I don't think the preds themselves would cause Type 2 but I'm open to correction? What you eat and when and lack of exercise are more likely causes.
Bit of added info:
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes often develop slowly. In fact, you can have type 2 diabetes for years and not know it. Look for:
Increased thirst and frequent urination. Excess sugar building up in your bloodstream causes fluid to be pulled from the tissues. This may leave you thirsty. As a result, you may drink — and urinate — more than usual.
Increased hunger. Without enough insulin to move sugar into your cells, your muscles and organs become depleted of energy. This triggers intense hunger.
Weight loss. Despite eating more than usual to relieve hunger, you may lose weight. Without the ability to metabolize glucose, the body uses alternative fuels stored in muscle and fat. Calories are lost as excess glucose is released in the urine.
Fatigue. If your cells are deprived of sugar, you may become tired and irritable.
Blurred vision. If your blood sugar is too high, fluid may be pulled from the lenses of your eyes. This may affect your ability to focus.
Slow-healing sores or frequent infections. Type 2 diabetes affects your ability to heal and resist infections.
Areas of darkened skin. Some people with type 2 diabetes have patches of dark, velvety skin in the folds and creases of their bodies — usually in the armpits and neck. This condition, called acanthosis nigricans, may be a sign of insulin resistance.
When to see a doctor
See your doctor if you notice any type 2 diabetes symptoms.
Causes
Type 2 diabetes develops when the body becomes resistant to insulin or when the pancreas stops producing enough insulin. Exactly why this happens is unknown, although genetics and environmental factors, such as excess weight and inactivity, seem to be contributing factors.
I believe that one of the side effects of prednisone is a risk of diabetes. Others may wish to confirm or deny.
Hi OregonjohnUK, I'm inclined to not agree with you re: pred not a causitive factor in weight gain. Myi weight has been stable for many years, and when on the pred I gained close to 10 lbs. My MD said it would come off when my pred was way lowered, which is beginning to slowly happen. I believe it can be a causitive to diabetes for some people. I have been VERY careful how I eat, a tendency to vegetarian, lots of veggies, salads with vinegar and some olive oil, etc.
Pulled this from a Diabetes website in the UK:
Corticosteroids are used to reduce harmful inflammation but can lead to diabetes - often referred to as steroid diabetes.
People on steroids who are already at a higher risk of type 2 diabetes or those who need to take steroids for longer periods of time are the most susceptible to developing steroid induced diabetes.
Is steroid induced diabetes permanent?
High blood glucose levels whilst taking steroids may subside after you stop taking steroids, however, some people may develop type 2 diabetes which will need to be managed for life.
Type 2 diabetes is more likely to develop following longer term usage of steroids, such as usage of oral corticosteroids for longer than 3 months.
Heres the link: http://www.diabetes.co.uk/steroid-induced-diabetes.html
Hi, Elijo - I didn't say preds were not a cause of weight gain but type 2 diabetes. I gained some weight at higher doses of pred at the start of my PMR journey, due I believe to inactivity and eating more.
But that weight gain was a cause of Type 2. (such as excess weight and inactivity, seem to be contributing factors. quote from the Mayo Clinic) Hope that makes sense.
Thanks for your input. It's all interrelated, and can actually be complicated. The human body is amazing and different meds can effect us in so many different ways. The interaction and input on theis forum has been invaluable and helpt guide us through our journey!
When I started on Pred and read up about side affects, one of the ones that stood out for me was type 2 diabetes. Weight gain is a problem. I lost about 12lbs pre diagnosis but have put on about 20lbs since being on Pred. I'm getting it down slowly, about 4 or 5lbs so far but controlling the hunger is the main thing for me.
Keep trying! I have found that since my pred dose is SO much lower now(previously 30mg) that I do feel much better, very little edema (which I had so much of), and I'm feeling more normal! Still some brain fog and a few annoyances, but much better. How much pred are you on? It's a wonderful drug, but so many side effects. Elinor
Pred can change the way your body processes carbs and can lead to raised blood sugars. It doesn't have to be due to weight gain or being overweight and does have a great deal to do with your diet - if you eat a lot of refined carbs (any carbs really, including fruit) then your blood sugar level will rise quickly after every time you eat them. It doesn't necessarily mean you are diabetic. I will put a post after this with a link - which gives good info about diagnosis of diabetes and says quite clearly that you cannot diagnose diabetes on the basis of a single blood test - particularly in patients on "medication that may cause rapid glucose rise e.g. steroids". The moderator may approve it - but I will send it by pm too.
What test did they do? Was it an Hba1c test? That is an indicator of the blood sugar levels over the previous 3 months and is far more informative than a single fasting BS level but even so, more is required than a single test to diagnose diabetes.
You can help it a lot by cutting the carbs you eat - it also helps with the weight gain that is so common when we are on pred. Some people have avoided weight gain by cutting their carbs right from the start. Others have been able to lose weight even though they are still on pred - I lost 38 lbs of pred-induced weight over a period of a couple of years. I put on 5lbs in a week a few weeks ago while at a conference because I was eating carbs which I don't normally do - I came home and lost the lot in about the same time once back to my normal diet. I have been back at 15mg pred for the last few months and didn't put on a pound due to that. Quite proud of that achievement!
This is the link I mentioned:
Sadly type 2 diabetes is a side effect of pred. I have heard it called steroid induced diabetes. Doctors are encouraged to test glucose levels of people on long term pred regularly because of this. I did read somewhere that the chances of getting diabetes on long term pred is fifty per cent, which seem an incredibly high amount of people. That figure could be totally wrong of course. Diabetes is not exclusive to the overweight, it can also be caused by lifestyle, family history and also certain ethnic groups seem to be more prone to it.
In the meantime - the link is to "Diagnostic criteria for diabetes" on the Diabetes UK site.
and this site has this:
https://patient.info/health/tests-for-blood-sugar-glucose-and-hba1c
Yep, it is a wonderful drug. I learnt very early to treat it as my friend, albeit with its little foibles.
I started on 25mg just before Christmas and have just got to 12.5mg. I will stay here for a while, probably a month before going lower. I still have a bit of brain fog which I'm blaming on the Pred, honest, although I've never been the clearest thinker at the best of times. ;-) Overall I'm happy enough with all this, I've accepted it all as it is what it is. I'm still off work but have always lived within my means, if I've got it I spend it if I haven't then I don't.
Stay happy. Ron.
When I started on pred my blood sugar sky rocketed close to the diabetic level. I immediately went on a low carb diet (still on it, actually) and by the time my pred was down to 7 mg my blood sugar was well within normal range again.
I have been on pred since December and have also put on weight with it as well. My rhumy said this might happen. I try to exercise daily but it doesn't seem up come off easily.
Yes I've worried about it to. I do eat meat, love it, and basically no carbs, the flour ones, no grains, no sugar, except special occasions, rarely alcohol either, bummer I love wine, but doesn't even taste good now after one glass.
Weight loss for me. Verses gain.
so yes Pred raises sugar. I have test in 2 weeks so I'll see again where mine is, I hope not higher. My only symptoms are thirst and pee a lot.
i do hope your doctor gives you the more extensive tests and not scaring you too much.
best wishes to you.
It is actually more difficult to lose weight while on pred, I also found that by eating the same as I did before, I gained weight, even though my weight was steady pre pred. I gave up gluten and simple carbs and have now managed to maintain my weight.
Thank you for your informative correspondence. I am waiting for a 2nd blood test at the end of the month - I have cut out cakes, biscuits etc from my diet and lost 6 lbs in 3 weeks. My doctor seems to be convinced that the diabetes is caused by the preds. which really means that changing my diet is not going to reverse the outcome of the next blood test.