Sugar Craving?

On pred 20 mg, Salofalk 8x500 mg, Imuran 100 mg and Prozac antidepressant.
This might be a bit off topic but pred doesn't give me a normal "increased" appetite, it rather makes me crave for sugar and I'm already consuming sugar in my diet, even in tea. I know pred can cause diabetes but I can't point out the connection. Is this bad or some kind of symptom? It's like I don't want to eat anything else but show me a cake, chocolate etc, and I'm ravenous. Someone told me I'm insulin sensitive and that it's a good thing but is there a connection? Should I limit my sugar intake? All I wanna eat is sweets, I feel like a little boy lol.

I actually do take Glutamine, I drink Optimum Whey Gold Standard protein shakes before and after I go to gym, which I is something do 3-4 times a week. So it's around 6-8 portions a week. As far as I know there is glutamine in it. Until last week I've been taking it as a pill too. Didn't seem to anything about my sugar cravings.

Could be, though cravings weren't present before my last flare and back then I was taking less pred but more protein shakes. These cravings start mostly when I'm on 20 mgs or more, so I think it's related to pred. It dates back to around two years as far as I can remember, my body weight was around 65 kgs and I was using pred back then too, started craving for a lot of sugar and I gained 12 kgs of body weight in a flash. Now I don't gain that easily but cravings are still present, that's why I asked if it was a symptom.

Definitely a side effect of Prednisone. I had a horrible sweet tooth on the stuff as do many others.

See this previous thread. https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=1439641

Agree with John, gotta love his signature.

You should definitely ask your M.D. to check fasting glucose. Best.

Post Edited (zengrrl) : 6/15/2016 9:19:49 AM (GMT-6)

Everyone's blood sugar is through the roof while on prednisone. Therefore, most doctors ignore that value while you're on steroids because it's inaccurate/not a true value due to steroids. If you're getting a Complete Bloodcell Count (CBC) blood test it's on in there.

I have found a spoonful of cinnamon helps me with my sugar cravings. It helps regulate your insulin levels.

"In fact, another name for corticosteroids is glucocorticoids in honor of the powerful effect they have on glucose (sugar) metabolism.
Prednisone induces elevated glucose levels by stimulating glucose secretion by the liver as well as reducing glucose transport into adipose and muscle cells. The overall effect is a reduction in glucose clearance. Elevated glucose levels can lead to glucose toxicity further impairing insulin secretion from the pancreas. Prednisone can also impair GLUT-2 expression. GlUT-2 is a protein mediated glucose transporter that ferries glucose across cell membranes."
blog.joslin.org/2014/02/how-prednisone-affects-blood-sugar/

"Type 2 diabetes is where the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin, the hormone that helps glucose enter the cells where it can be used as energy. If there is not enough insulin, excess sugar builds up in the bloodstream, causing symptoms such as excessive thirst, weight loss, hunger and fatigue."
www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1361652/How-steroids-diabetes.html

"Did steroids bring on my type 2 diabetes?
There has been debate as to whether corticosteroids are a cause for diabetes or whether steroids advance the development of existing type 2 diabetes. A study published in 2012, carried out by the University of Sydney, looked to investigate answers to the question. The study, titled Steroid-Induced Diabetes: Is It Just Unmasking of Type 2 Diabetes?, found that those which developed new onset steroid induced diabetes had lower risk profiles than is typical of people with type 2 diabetes."
www.diabetes.co.uk/steroid-induced-diabetes.html