Hi everyone, back again with another querie. I have been to see my rheumatologist today and because my pmr symptoms are not getting any better on 15mg a day (feeling really miserable at the moment with the typical pains) he has asked me to see if we can blast it with 40mg a day for two weeks reducing gradually over the next three months. The problem is, I am diabetic type 2 on 40mg gliclazide a day and watching my diet. I'm not sure how this is going to effect my glucose levels and I can't get to see my GP until Thursday. Is this anything someone can advise on? If not I'll just wait until Thursday to see him before I increase my dose.
hi once again not sure whats happening with this format came up with send a message ??so i repeat sorry you got missed would not like you to feel unsupported but not able to advise suggest you contact diabetic nurse @ drs surgery or diabetic clinic at nearest hosp carolk
I' m sorry too that your posting somehow disappeared, just hope that you get this now.
I'm also T2 diabetes and high steroid doses send my sugar levels flying. It is only temporary, though, as the steroid dose decreases so the sugars come down.
Having moved to this area I found that I was having to repeat this time and again to the nurses/doctors that the steroids were responsible, but they have now got used to it as my previous surgery did, and now don't make a big thing of it.
I don't know the medication that you are on - I'm on Metformin at the max dose - but I suspect it may also have a side effect of weight gain anyway which would send my levels up in any case. I choose to have higher steroid doses when necessary to ensure that I don't have any visual or optical problems and for general quality of life, but of course it is an individual choice. With a reasonable diet the sugar levels take care of themselves in time.
You may not get this particular side effect - Pred has many and no-one gets them all - so for sheer quality of life the higher dose may be worth a try.
hi i started on 15mg prednisolone 2 years but the symptoms have never totally gone eg fatigue stiffness and discomfort in muscles but they are controlled enough to live a reasonable life with some limitations such as needing rest ,and paying a price if i over do it . i gradually reduced to 7 mg with my weight gain reducing back to within 5lbs of mu usual weight ,but at 7mg things went pear shaped with incresed pain etc finally and reluctantly i have gone back to 8 mg but i am hoping to reduce again soon i usually reduce 1mg approx a month but noe the dose is lower i think i may have to go slower and at 0.5mg . clearly my adrenals are not wanting to take over so i have to give them time !!!!! i have been borderline re blood sugar but so far have not tipped into diabetes and now i am going down hopefully i will not get a problem ,i wish you luck with the higher doses carol k
Thank you all for your replies. I am on prednisalone 40mg, reducing by 5 mg every two weeks to see how I go. I have noticed since I posted my MSG that the glucose has gone up to around 10's 15's but being careful with my diet. I also agree that high glucose will sort themselves out and I also feel so much better on the higher dose of pred. My aches and pains went the following day, I feel great at the moment, but taking care not to over do it as I feel we'll.
thanks again
Sue
Hi everyone, just realised my mistake in answering I am on pred 40 mg. what I should have said is " I am on gliclazide 40 mg a day for the diabetes. Sorry.
Sue
So what dose of pred are you on Sue? Is it 40mg pred and 40mg gliclazide?
Not that I can help much with the diabetes query - but now I'll get notifications for this thread!!
I really am getting irritated with the vagaries of this forum ;-)
Eileen
Hi Eieen, I'm on 40mg of prednisalone and 40mg of gliclazide. In the last couple of days my glucose level has gone sky high, I expected this because of the pred. But it is hard dealing with the symptoms of high glucose levels, but never mind, I would much prefer this than the aches and pains of pmr. Thanks for the MSG.
Sue