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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 11/22/2009 1:20 AM (GMT 0)
     Judy, I read your post where you stated that you had prednisone induced diabetes.  This is my problem now too.  A few months ago  my blood sugar registered at 237 while only on 10 mgm of prednisone, tapering from 40.  My family doctor told me not to be alarmed that when I went off the prednisone my blood sugar would return to normal.  I just watched my diet.  I was only able to obtain a two month remission.  A few weeks ago, my GI doctor had to place me back on prednisone prior to Remicade.   He asked me to start at 30 mgm for the few days prior to my office visit.  When he saw me, he increased the prednisone "jump kicked it" to 60 mgm for that one day and dropped it to 40 mgm the next day.  He told me to stay at 40 until I saw some improvement and drop it to 30 mgm.  I received the Remicade Wednesday.  Today I had NO blood, however, I am so scared to drop the prednisone 10 mgm (he always used a 5 mgm taper) that today I dropped it to 35 mgm.  My blood sugar was 188 last night (2 hrs after eating) and tonight 166 (3 hrs after dinner).

     Were you on any medication for your blood sugar?  Both my parents were diabetics and I am somewhat concerned about this.  Did you see an Endocrinologist?  How is your blood sugar now?

Posted 11/22/2009 1:51 AM (GMT 0)
I was never on medication and my blood sugar was never actually over 120, highest A1C was about 6.7. My internist was very proactive, and started me on diet and exercise right away. (My husband has type II, so I just picked up his protocol.)

I was on a really low dose of Entocort - 3 mg, roughly comparable to 10-15 mg of Prednisone, but I'd been on it for more than two years. Within two months of stopping the Entocort my A1C was back down below 6.5 and my blood sugars returned to around 90, where they'd always been.

I also have no family history of diabetes, and that does make a difference, I think. What I found that helped the most for me was regular exercise. That also has kept my husband's ranges normal, along with modest dietary changes. He has a very strong family history of type II; his mother had it and his brother died at 50 from diabetes-related heart disease.

You will likely want to follow your blood sugar closely, and if it doesn't start going down as you taper off the Pred, your doctor may want to try some medication. Also, have you been to any classes about diabetes? My husband went when he was diagnosed, and we both learned a lot. The treatment is changing rapidly as they gain experience with it.

Good luck, and I hope both your sugar and your colon get back into good control for you soon.
Posted 11/22/2009 10:11 PM (GMT 0)
     Thank you Judy.  No, I have never attended classes for diabetes.  I never had this issue until a few months ago.  My blood sugar, even on prednisone, was always normal except for when I was hospitalized last year and they put a PIC line in and gave me prednisone through it.  Then the nurse was coming in to give me insulin because my BS had gone up to 180.  I realized something was wrong in August, after being on prednisone since June.  I was down to 10 mgm but experienced tingling in my fingers and excessive thirst.  I KNEW what it was right away.  I went to my family doctor the next day and he gave me an ACCU CHEK monitor.  I told him what it registered...237 that evening.  I was scared out of my wits!  However, he said it was just due to the prednisone, to watch my diet and the BS should return to normal after I went off the prednisone.  He was right, but I was only able to stay off the prednisone for two months.  Now that I am back on it....up went the BS.  I tapered down to 30 mgm today.  I see my GI doctor on Tuesday and  I'll get his opinion on whether to see an Endocrinologist.  I sure don't want to wind up like my mom, heart disease, kidney failure because of diabetes.
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