Steroids/diabeties can anyone help?

Hi all,

Just started a another course of steroids today 500g for 5 days ugh!!  Anyway they took my glucose reading and found it high 140 or 7.7.  I know that the steroids up your level and I foolishly threw out the records of my last IV so I don't know what they were then.  They took the readings today after the IV -  before (last year) they did it before my IV so I have no clue.

Basically my question is how long does the steroids stay in your body for??  and when will my sugar readings start to drop?? I have been googling around (as you do ) and some of the early signs mimic MS with the fatigue, heavy legs, scratching etc.

I have had a really sweet tooth over the last few months???  Normally I hate cakes and cookies -  etc., so the Nurse said no sugar or salt for me - blimme is there a dress size of minus zero  :-)

Boiled egg and a jacket potato for me tonight with a salad - but I gotta have something sweet :)

I hope some of you can help me with this, I know I'm going to rebound the muscles in my legs are so weak and thats just after one day - the last time it was terrible - all my previous relapses came back at the same time - now that was a rollercoaster ride :/

Hugs to all,

DebsXXXX

[Heather3418]

A blood glucose reading of 140 is just a hair on the high side of normal and since you have just conpleted your steroids, your sugars should return to normal within a few days.

When I had steroids, I found that the effects of the steroids only last a couple of weeks.  I don't know about others experienes.

I really do not think that you have anything to worry about with your glucose readings.  I would definitely keep a check on your readings over the next couple of weeks.  If you continue to have borderline high readings, which here in the States 140 is considered the cut off, I would definitely see if you can control the higher readings with diet alone.

There are alot of products on the market that are made with artifical sweetners, to satisfy your sweet tooth.  I am a diabetic, although a well-controlled diabetic.  I still eat my sweets, which I love so much, but know that I can't indulge myself every day of the week.  

I hope you get to feeling better dearheart and please keep us informed about those blood sugar readings....

Have a GREAT DAY, Debs,
Heather

[young at heart]

STEROIDS CAN CAUSE BLOOD SUGARS TO RISE AND CAN INDUCE DIABETES,140 WAS THAT A BLOOD SUGAR TEST DONE FASTING OR AFTER THE SOLU-MEDROL INFUSIONS?

WHEN I'M ON INFUSIONS I TAKE GLUCOPHAGE 1000MGS DURING THE DURATION OF THE INFUSIONS BECAUSE THEY WILL SEND MY GLUCOSE LEVELS INTO THE HIGH 300 HUNDREDS AND LOW 400 HUNDREDS.

STEROIDS CAN CAUSE MUSCLE WEEKNESS AND IN TIME IT WILL SUBSIDE.

WITH THE BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS AND YOUR CONCERNS YOU SHOULD TALK WITH YOUR GP.

T-LYNN

[Heather3418]

My blood glucose reading went to 440 when I was on steroids.  That was the first time I was ever given insulin.  And that was a fasting blood sugar reading.  I remained on insulin during my infusions.

I agree with you, Debs should talk to her doctor about her readings, so he can keep a check on her to see if the levels require some diet adjustment or possibly medications.

Heather

[Momzilla]

Hi, Debs!

Sorry to hear you're back on the rollercoaster of health.  You have had such trouble with gaining weight, too, haven't you?

Perhaps your doctor could refer you to a nutritionist, to help get you back on track, with foods that will be easy for you to tolerate and still keep your glucose levels steady.

Glad to hear from you!  Feel well,

Zilla*

[sherma57]

Thank you all for your advice.  I just started them today and I'm not going to have anything sweet tonight, and I'll cut out my 2 sugars in coffee.  I'll also ask the Nurse to take reading bedfore and after the IV.

Got my sleeping tabs :-) just hoping that my leg muscle weakness is not the start of the rebound.

I'll keep you posted tomorrow when we start again arh!!  (sounds like captain Jack Sparrow) ))))))

Thank you all your replies are really comforting.

Hugs to all

DebsXX

[essdipity]

Hey there! So glad to see you back. I've never had to deal with blood sugar questions so I'm no expert, but I do have one or two suggestions overall. Assuming your cholesterol and blood pressure are fine, this might be the time to tuck into comfort food galore. Fatty things like peanut butter will fill you up, and PB is actually good for you. Meat and cheese will put weight on you, as will pasta, rice and bread. Most of us have to watch our consumption of all such things, but if you don't then go for it!  We'll all drool while you tell us the yummy things you are eating. For sweets, do you have something like Splenda sweetener available? It's by far the best of the no-cal sweeteners. I wouldn't suggest baking with it, but just for adding to things it's fine. Make your food as sweet as you like this way, for the time being.

Someone I know lost a huge amount of weight during a severe bout with mono. He looked like a picked chicken. His doctor ordered him to blend a pint of ice cream with a raw egg and consume this once a day till he had gained 10 lbs. per month. This he managed to do without trouble. I hope you can finds loads of ways of tanking in healthy calories and getting yourself fit again.

Please keep us posted.

ess

[Jazzyfizzle]

I am like Heather and hit a good 400 on the steroids. I don't see 140 as a scary place to be, but wouldn't hurt to run it by the doc. I wouldn't see a 140 reading causing heavy legs.

Love Capt. Jack by the way! (drool) lol  

Yes please keep us updated!

Jazzy