How many here also have diabetes?

[drz]

I find the steriods really screw up by blood glucose levels but they are necessary part of treatment for Wegener's.

When in hospital last week I got 500 mg one day and it will take a few days for my BG to settle down, but it is difficult since i am still getting 70 mg day. the rheumatologist said he will cut back to60 next week but doubt that will help BG levels much.

[Lightwarrior]

Regardless of the reason you have increased blood glucose levels you need to be treated to keep your glucose below 140, some docs go as high as 180. Steroids will increase your blood glucose and they may (should) go back to normal as you taper down. I have never been diabetic, but secondary to steroids I was having high glucose levels. I am taking prandin 2mg po prior to each meal which has kept my glucose very nicely under control. Whatever method your doc chooses you need to be controlled. You may have to use a sliding scale for insulin when you are getting a steroid burst, but you should be treated.

[Jen57]

My diabetes has become a real problem mainly due to the steriods. I am having heaps of problems because of uncontrollable sugar levels. Yesterday I was put on long acting insulin, before that I was on a short working one to control the sugar highs after taking steriods. High sugar levels can affect every part of your body especially your kidneys. I have stenosis in my legs at the moment and can hardly walk. The Doctors are not sure whether its fromthe diabetes or WG. So its important to get someone to help you get it under control. It is hard to do though. Diet can help as well.

[elephant]

LIke LIghtwarrior stated it is important to keep your blood sugars undercontrol. I too had glucose issues and was on insulin will I was in the hospital and took oral meds to keep my glucose normal. I have a glucometer and checked my blood sugar three times a day. I also walked around my house...not fast but tried to get some form of exercise.
Jen57- Did they ckeck for blood clots in your legs? My left calf is larger then the right and feels tight on/off.Blood clot was ruled out. Since WG is a vasculitis disease it could be from WG.

[Col 23]

Jen I am having trouble walking any distance what symptoms are stenosis in the legs?
Col 23

[Sangye]

"Steroid-induced hyperglycemia" is pretty common on pred. I never had a problem with my glucose but the first night I was on 1,000 mg IV solumedrol (1,560 mg pred) it shot up to 330. For the first few days in the hospital I needed insulin shots. They gave me a home tester but once I got home it went back to a lovely 85. I was hospitalized frequently in the first few months and even though we were continuing to decrease the pred, it always went up while inpatient.

It goes up for a day or two after a rtx infusion, when I'm given 100mg IV solumedrol. Thankfully, it isn't an ongoing issue for me. I'm sorry for those of you who suffer with it-- a difficult complication, for sure.

[drz]

"Steroid-induced hyperglycemia" is pretty common on pred. I never had a problem with my glucose but the first night I was on 1,000 mg IV solumedrol (1,560 mg pred) it shot up to 330. For the first few days in the hospital I needed insulin shots. They gave me a home tester but once I got home it went back to a lovely 85. I was hospitalized frequently in the first few months and even though we were continuing to decrease the pred, it always went up while inpatient.

It goes up for a day or two after a rtx infusion, when I'm given 100mg IV solumedrol. Thankfully, it isn't an ongoing issue for me. I'm sorry for those of you who suffer with it-- a difficult complication, for sure.

How long ddi it take you to recover from that dosage? I am on insulin pump for diabetes and find readings all over the place (36-500+) and am working with endo and diabetic educator to try keep readings between 100-250.

[Sangye]

How long ddi it take you to recover from that dosage?
I never really have. My glucose has, but my adrenals think it was a nasty trick to kick 'em when they were down. :D

[Jen57]

Jen I am having trouble walking any distance what symptoms are stenosis in the legs?
Col 23
I was walking my dogs as normal and then one day I felt like my legs were overexercised but I had only walked my normal distance. I kept trying to walk but my legs got worse and the right one felt the blood wasnt getting through to my lower legs. It got so I couldnt walk through the shops to do a big shop even it was uncomfortable more than painful, but I kept trying to do what I was doing and then the pain started in the calfs, its not severe but you cannot walk any distance without it playing up. My GP sent me for a ultra sound of the abdomen and both legs and thats when they found stenosis. My GP tells me they may put stents in my legs and that will help, but someltimes the GPs say things are easier than what they turn out to be. I have a referral to see a specialist. I will let you know what he says. If you were walking ok before and now you cant walk as far or are having discomfort then I would say it might be the same problem.

jenny

[Sangye]

Jenny, please make sure you see a Wegs doc before pursuing stents or any kind of surgery on your legs. The risk of blood clots in Weggies is 23% higher than in non-Weggies. Also, any irritation to the vascular system in general is risky with Wegs.

[wgrebel]

I was not diabetic until I began taking solumedrol in the HP when diagnosed with WG and I have been since then while I have been on the prednisone. My blood glucose stays fairly stable ann last night was 124 after I ate birthday cake, lasange (to celebrate my 10 yr aniv), and a milkshake. I have been informed by doctors that once off the preds I would not be diabetic. It just seems to me to be another thing to deal with when you get WG.

[elephant]

Glad you enjoyed your cake. Yes my sugars were up and at that time I could not hardly walk ..in alot of pain. If your able to just walk around a little bit even in your house your sugars will go down even a little bit. I even tested my sugars before and after exercise. I just walked slowly in my house going around the dining room to the kitchen for ten minutes and went down 20 points.

[Sangye]

That's great advice, Elephant.

Wgrebel, don't worry. Most likely your blood sugar will be just fine once they drop the pred further. A BSL of 124 after cake is perfectly fine, considering you're still on high-dose pred. My docs had said they would only be concerned if I had routine fasting BSL's over 140.

[pberggren1]

Yes, let's have our cake and eat it too!!

[Lightwarrior]

Yes, let's have our cake and eat it too!!


LOL...well said