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help! on prednisone for colitis now diabetic?

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Posted 5/14/2014 3:01 AM (GMT 0)
hello everyone!

i'm originally from the ulcerative colitis side of things, but I just wanted some input. After all you are the best people to ask. After seeing my doctor and her looking at me like I'm nuts because of my side effects with the prednisone last thursday and doing absolutely nothing for me, also being to the ER and them telling me to see a psychiatrist (which i did the lady just chatted with me for an hour and did nothing) I wish they would've done a blood test on me but they didn't.
I kind of carried on like usual.. on 25mg prednisone from 40 when I first got out of the hospital. every day I shake like a leaf, get sweaty throughtout the day... moody all that fun stuff with the prednisone. but also have a very dry mouth very thirsty, lethargic always tired. and I pee ALOT ever since I go out of the hospital but thought it was the imuran or pred. my legs tingle too. I just want to know I'm not being a hypochondriac.


Well my father is type 1 diabetic. and I was joking around with him when he brought out his blood tester. Said maybe you should check me with all my health problems lately.


UH. it read 11.1

dad looked at me like "uh oh. that's not good"

so do I call my gi or go to a hospital? dad said if I was like 30 he would send me right away, but he wants to check it when he wakes up at 530 am.
Posted 5/14/2014 5:25 AM (GMT 0)
Sarah, I responded to your question in the UC forum.
Posted 5/14/2014 2:03 PM (GMT 0)
11.1 is very high but not critically so, so you can probably wait to make an appointment with you primary care physician A gastrointerologist is unlikely to do anything except maybe reccomend you see your primary or an endocrinologist.

Predisone is really good at raising blood sugar levels, even in people who are not technically diabetic.
Posted 5/14/2014 2:21 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for replying over there but felt I had put it in the wrong forum and stuck it over here too. Unfortunately dad took his checker to work and never woke me up this morning so I don't know what my level is. I feel ok right now though. Just took the prednisone about 15 mins ago. I am hoping that if I am that it is borderline and temporary. Luckily I see my doctor tomorrow afternoon so will ask for a blood requisite.
Posted 5/14/2014 2:28 PM (GMT 0)
I should add that I did take it last night around 11 after him taking it at 730 and it was down to 4.7 so either I came crashing down from the prednisone or I can't trust the blood checker. Which is why I'm getting him to test me later on too . But I did feel like a big bag of you know what so I think my blood sugars were very everywhere yesterday.
Posted 5/14/2014 2:42 PM (GMT 0)
It is not uncommon for a person's blood sugars to run the gammit from very high to normal or even somewhat low over the course of several hours while on this medication. Between your family history and what you have learned/seen in the last few days you certainly need to bring it up with your doctor. It probably would not hurt for you to have your own glucose monitor as well.
Posted 5/14/2014 3:05 PM (GMT 0)
yeah I wish there was one of dad's old ones here but he ended up throwing them out. That is exactly why I'm so worried, because dad came down with type one at the age of 32. His father, my grandfather had crohns(there's the link to my colitis) and diabetes, and my grandmother had diabetes too. Plus, I have Imuran and Prednisone which can do a number on your pancreas. Good Scottish genes! :p
Posted 5/14/2014 4:52 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there, Sarah! Don't worry about where you post the problems about prednisone and blood sugar because I'm sure there are several others with the same issue over in UC, too. And Judy2 has experience to help guide you through dealing with both of these.

Over here, I can help you with blood sugar levels and food related to that and diabetes but I know you have to figure out your food plan related to UC as well.

"IF" diabetes is in your family, you are wise to watch your blood sugar in any case, regardless of UC. Whether it's type 1 or 2, the eating plan with the best effect on blood sugar is to go low carb because carbs will raise your blood sugar very high, especially if you're on pred or other steroids (pills or shots). When I've had to do both because of bursitis, my blood sugar spiked really high.

Anyway, if you have a WalMart or a drugstore/pharmacy chain nearby, look for their own brand glucose meters. In WalMart it's called ReliOn. What drugstore chains do you have in Nova Scotia? The store brands are less expensive than the name-brand meters. Since you do have family members with diabetes, it might be a good idea to buy your own meter.

Make sure you're getting enough vitamin D. Since you're in the northern climes, you might ask your doctor if you should take vitamin D supplements.

Please post here again if you have any questions regarding your blood sugar or food related to that. I hope you're doing well now!
Posted 5/14/2014 5:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hey thank you so much! I posted it in both forums and have been going back and forth, since it's related to the prednisone i wasn't sure if the ulcerative colitis forum would delete it or not.

I had my prednisone around 11:00 and I ate around one, moms home made ham soup with a slice of bread. Both of my parents are telling me its not a big deal to be 11 but I feel like I should at least talk to my doctor tomorrow and tell her it was 11.1 and since I'm on a monthly blood test get one done with the A1C test. I can feel myself getting a bit shaky again but that's probably the prednisone kicking in now. and was just told by mom those strips are like 10 bucks each and since I'm unemployed because of being hospitalized, I'll get dad to check me whenever he wants I guess I don't want to waste all his strips. can't really afford them right now unless I get a script and put it on my pharmacare. Being told to calm down but can't help but be frustrated.
Posted 5/14/2014 5:30 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, please talk with your doctor about the blood sugar levels. I do feel that 11 (which is about 199 on the measurement we use in the States), is very high and if a person stays at that level a long time or spikes up to that level and then down, and up again, it can damage your health over time. With all due respect to what your parents say about that, then, it is in your best interest to have much lower blood sugar.

Normally, when steroids are prescribed, especially frequently and for long term, the prescribing doctor will also put the patient on diabetes meds (usually insulin). However, individual doctors may look at this differently - but I just want you to be aware of your own health and look out for yourself. Actually, I think you're probably doing this already since you sought out information and support at HealingWell. :-)

As I told Paddicake in another thread (please read her thread), many factors can affect our blood sugar, not just meds: physical pain, stress, sickness, anxiety. So, take a deep breath and back away from that piece of cake.
tongue
Posted 5/14/2014 8:04 PM (GMT 0)
dad checked my blood about an hour ago and it was 9.1 and now I think it might be a bit higher, feeling cruddy. If it is just the prednisone I can't wait to be off of it. If i'm diabetic, well, that sucks and I'd like to get it under control. See my doc tomorrow hopefully she helps me with this.
Posted 5/14/2014 9:06 PM (GMT 0)
It would be a good idea for you to write all the blood sugar results down on a paper and show your doctor, telling her that your dad used his meter to test you. Ask her what the long-term plan is for the prednisone use and tell her you are concerned about having such high readings. Depending on what she says, ask if it would be wise to be on diabetes meds while you are on pred. If, she thinks it's going to be for a long, long time, see if you should see an endocrinologist.

The point of this is so you can understand what the plan of treatment is so you can plan how to deal with this high blood sugar.

My fingers are crossed for your doctor's visit tomorrow and I hope all goes well!
Posted 5/14/2014 9:38 PM (GMT 0)
Yes I agree, I have written down the 3 times I've tested it so far. I have a feeling she will just send me to someone else. I just want to feel normal at this point.
Posted 5/14/2014 11:55 PM (GMT 0)
Oh gosh, I wish I could blink my eyes and make you feel normal, too! It's hard to face these health issues, especially at your age, but if it's one thing I've learned in my life (I'm 65 but don't call me 'granny' turn ), it's not to be in denial but to accept whatever it is and take control. Control means learning everything you can about how to take care of yourself and what treatments are so you can understand what your doctors say to you and you can ask questions about anything you don't understand. When I was younger I'd leave the doctor's office in a cloud of ignorance.

I don't know what your doctor will do. A specialist in diabetes and all matters that involve glands is an endocrinologist. I'm sure there's a treatment standard that your doctor follows which might have to do with the Canadian system - I have no idea.

In any case, as long as you understand what makes your blood sugar rise (carbs, sickness/stress, certain meds, and of course being diabetic), then you will know at least how to have some measure of control over that part of your health.

Please let us know how the appointment goes, ok? ((Sarah)))
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