High Dose Prednisone and blood sugar spike
 

Has anyone been infused with 1gram of Pred via dextrose solution and have a major blood sugar spike? My blood sugar was under control and ran at 90 to 120 prior to my latest MS flair. Now 2 weeks after my blood sugar is spiking at 512 plus and isn't coming down below 400. I'm concerned that this crap has toasted my liver and my pancreas.

My primary doc doesn't seem too concerned but I sure as hell am! I like being able to see. My vision crashed about 3 days after the end of this session. Because of the blood sugars.

If you have had this happen to you how long did it take to return to normal?

I've not heard of Prednisolone being mixed with Dextrose, but then I live in a different country which could have different practices.

I've only ever had IV Methyl Prednisolone mixed with Saline, and other people I know have also had that same mixture. When I had IV cortisone I was given 1000mgs mixed in Saline, and that was repeated each day for 3 days (total of 3000mgs ... or 3G).

Cortisone does tend to increase your blood sugar, but if you were monitored (say in hospital) I can't imagine there'd be a problem, unless your own blood glucose was elevated or borderline to start with ....

I'm used to Dextrose being infused at a 4% or 5% ratio. Neither of those amounts would be enough to upset the blood glucose in most people, but in a diabetic, or some-one with an unstable blood glucose level, both these ratios might cause an elevated BSL, especially with the hyperglycemic effect of cortisones.

If this is your first infusion, I can't imagine it causing lasting damage to either your liver or your pancreas, but I'll stand corrected on that if others have different information.

My MD told me that steroids can cause a sharp spike in BS and it can stay up for a bit. I was told its a 99% chance it reverses itself after the wash out period for the steroids.

I hope you feel better. :hug:

My sugar was high during and after the steroids too, though not nearly as high as yours. Mine never passed the 290 mark. It took about 2 weeks for things to return to normal.
Do you see an endocrinologist for diabetes? If so, I would give them a call. High blood sugar can be very dangerous.
When I am on IV steroids I take insulin to control my sugar. I don't need insulin any other time.

When I had my infusions a few months back the nurse told me the same thing...BS usually spiikes from the roids. But when she checked mine during the infusion it dropped to 60, so she made me eat...I never follow the crowd:rolleyes: