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Diabetes & Prednisone

My sugar is out of control.  I'm on insulin plus pills, but my question really has to do with prednisone, 20/mg daily, which I have to take for Polymyalgia Rheumatica, an extremely painful muscle disease.   Without the pred. I literally cannot walk.  My sugar has been in the 300's & 400s no matter what I do - I've heard prednisone can wreak havoc with diabetes and I'd like to know if perhaps this is why my sugar level is so high?  Thank you.
Best Answer
141598 tn?1355671763
Prednisone is known to elevate glucose levels, especially when taken over a period of time. From what I have read after the first two to four weeks of treatment, your doctor will gradually decrease your dosage depending on your symptoms and the results of sed rate and C-reactive protein tests. For now you should speak with your Endocrinologist about adjusting your diabetes medication until you're off of Prednisone.
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Avatar universal
Thank you for your input.  I didn't realize malignancy is a possibility - may I ask what type?  Careful please, I'm a hypochondriac :)  And what is HERV--W?

I appreciate your taking the time to write me - I have so much to learn and sometimes I get scared. I hope you have a good weekend.
Helpful - 0
144586 tn?1284666164
As an alternative to prednisone I suggest you research the adviseability of using medical grade DSMO, a powerful anti-inflammatory. There is controversy in the conventional medical community. Only use medical grade (diluted) DSMO.

20 mg of daily prednisone is a high daily dose. In addition to elevated glucose levels adrenal atrophy and an increased liklihood of a malignancy are possibilities.

In addition, you shoud be screened for an HERV-W infection.
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141598 tn?1355671763
You're welcome. Might Google brands and types of premixed and long acting insulin and discuss with your doctor. Good luck
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you for your response.  My latest sed rate was 185 - normal is 20-30 for PMR (muscle disease).  I bolus with Novolog and that brings my sugar down rather quickly.  But you're right, I'll have to talk to my physician about this. I don't have an endo.

Thanks again :)
Helpful - 0
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