NeuroTalk Support Groups - Does anybody have trouble with steroids & diabetes?

NeuroTalk Support Groups (https://www.neurotalk.org/)

- Medications & Treatments (https://www.neurotalk.org/medications-and-treatments/)

- - Does anybody have trouble with steroids & diabetes? (https://www.neurotalk.org/medications-and-treatments/37461-trouble-steroids-diabetes.html)

Does anybody have trouble with steroids & diabetes?

I have two auto immune problems so I love the steroids (yes, I admit I have a problem ;)). They always make me feel better...eventually.

Unfortunately, I've gotten to the point that when I take steroids, I go into a diabetic state. Last time it got so bad, I had to go to the hospital until they could get my blood sugar under control. After the 'roids have cleared out of my system, my blood sugar goes back to normal & I have no signs of diabetes.

OK, the obvious answer is no more steroids. But, I hate being to the point where I can't do anything because I'm sick (I know-who doesn't :rolleyes:).

So, my question is, does anyone know how to keep their blood sugar on track while they are on steroids? Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Michelle

My first thought would be to talk to an endocrinologist. There might be a drug you could be put on temporarily that would help regulate your sugars.

Somewhere I also read that mixing it differently helps, but I'm not sure if that was to help with blood sugar or not.

Increases in blood sugar with steroids, is thought to be due to the loss of chromium that they cause:

Quote:

Diabet Med. 1999 Feb;16(2):164-7.Click here to read Links
Reversal of corticosteroid-induced diabetes mellitus with supplemental chromium.
Ravina A, Slezak L, Mirsky N, Bryden NA, Anderson RA.

Department of Diabetes, The Linn Clinic, Oranim University of Haifa, Israel.

AIMS: To determine if the stress of corticosteroid treatment increases chromium (Cr) losses and if corticosteroid-induced diabetes (steroid diabetes) can be reversed by supplemental chromium. METHODS: The effects of corticosteroid treatment on chromium losses of 13 patients 2 days prior to steroid administration and the first 3 days following treatment were determined. Since steroid-induced diabetes was associated with increased chromium losses and insufficient dietary chromium is associated with glucose intolerance and diabetes, we treated three patients with steroid-induced diabetes with 600 microg per day of chromium as chromium picolinate. RESULTS: Urinary chromium losses following corticosteroid treatment increased from 155+/-28 ng/d before corticosteroid treatment to 244+/-33 ng/d in the first 3 days following treatment. Chromium supplementation of patients with steroid-induced diabetes resulted in decreases in fasting blood glucose values from greater than 13.9 mmol/l (250 mg/dl) to less than 8.3 mmol/l (150 mg/dl). Hypoglycaemic drugs were also reduced 50% in all patients when given supplemental chromium. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that corticosteroid treatment increases chromium losses and that steroid-induced diabetes can be reversed by chromium supplementation. Follow-up, double-blind studies are needed to confirm these observations.

PMID: 10229312 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Also, typically the drugs used would be metformin or TZDs which reduce the glucose production by the liver (which is what the steroids increase).

You can print this out and take it to your doctor. But he/she should know this already. Eat protein/veggies etc, and go light on the carbs and that may help too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrsd (Post 208630)

Increases in blood sugar with steroids, is thought to be due to the loss of chromium that they cause:

Also, typically the drugs used would be metformin or TZDs which reduce the glucose production by the liver (which is what the steroids increase).

You can print this out and take it to your doctor. But he/she should know this already. Eat protein/veggies etc, and go light on the carbs and that may help too.

I have two immune disorders as well. I had this happen once (blood sugar went up to 500) and they were able to get it under control. This has been about 5 years ago. I have done steroids since with no problems.

yes, one side effect of steroids is that they will muck with your BS.

there are meds, as already mentioned, that can help to control BS.
you've gotten some good advice. your dr or your pcp should know what to do.
if not, consult a specialist.