A Weighty Issue

**greenjanet** · 09-29-2012, 08:16 AM

hi, i have a weight problem also im just over 101kgs and my dr said to try and lose or not put any more on, i feel for you as i know how you feel. i bought a pedometer which tracks how many steps the most ive done per day is 5000 should be 10000 and i find i lose when i have a very SMALL dinner anyway
fitbit.com where i bought pedometer and scale which wifi talk to each other im on 7.5mg pred we could do it together, janet

**RudiK** · 09-30-2012, 03:55 AM

Janet, weight gain is a problem for anyone on Preds. I have gained 20 lbs during the last 15 months, no matter how much I have tried to control my foot intake. I'm now at 200 lbs, 5'10" tall and 69 years old. Each of my docs have told me that weight control would be very difficult as long as I'm on Preds (5mg). So, I'm blaming it all on the medicine.

**KathyB** · 09-30-2012, 08:32 AM

Join the club! I was doing fine for the entire first year on prednisone, but in the last few months the weight is starting to come on -- 15 lbs! Yuck! I'd love to blame it ALL on the meds, but I know better!!

KB

**drz** · 09-30-2012, 09:02 PM

I lost 20 pounds before hospital admission and diagnosis and then lost another 10 pounds during initial hospital treatment so i was considered malnourished when I went to nursing home to convalesce and do rehab work. I was encouraged to eat a lot and had many pred induced snack attacks plus I often had to eat a lot of snacks to restore falling blood glucose levels. After three months there I had gained all of my lost weight back and was 25 plus pounds over my highest weight ever. I am still at that weight two years later even though I have got down to 5 mg of pred meds for past several months. I can't lose any of the extra weight and had to replace most of my clothes but am happy that I haven'[t gained any more. I was extremely thin before I was diagnosed with diabetes about 15 years ago and started on insulin so people thought I looked much better when I gained considerable weight from the insulin and other diabetic meds. But now i am considered mildly obese and would really love to lose about 30 pounds of fat. My doctors tell me the same thing as Rudy's and also say my blood glucose levels will also be very hard to control even with 5 mg of pred meds. My A1C levels have recently jumped two points to highest levels I have ever had too. The extra weight is also bad for my BG levels and diabetic problems. But I am still alive and walking around so its not all bad.

**Pete** · 10-01-2012, 04:37 AM

Originally Posted by drz

I lost 20 pounds before hospital admission and diagnosis and then lost another 10 pounds during initial hospital treatment so i was considered malnourished when I went to nursing home to convalesce and do rehab work. I was encouraged to eat a lot and had many pred induced snack attacks plus I often had to eat a lot of snacks to restore falling blood glucose levels. After three months there I had gained all of my lost weight back and was 25 plus pounds over my highest weight ever. I am still at that weight two years later even though I have got down to 5 mg of pred meds for past several months. I can't lose any of the extra weight and had to replace most of my clothes but am happy that I haven'[t gained any more. I was extremely thin before I was diagnosed with diabetes about 15 years ago and started on insulin so people thought I looked much better when I gained considerable weight from the insulin and other diabetic meds. But now i am considered mildly obese and would really love to lose about 30 pounds of fat. My doctors tell me the same thing as Rudy's and also say my blood glucose levels will also be very hard to control even with 5 mg of pred meds. My A1C levels have recently jumped two points to highest levels I have ever had too. The extra weight is also bad for my BG levels and diabetic problems. But I am still alive and walking around so its not all bad.

On pred, my stomach never feels full. That's not a good thing for a guy who has been a "food is fuel" type for most of his life. I never had a weight problem and could eat whatever I wanted. Like you, I lost 25 lbs before dx and was also a bit malnourished. Once I got home from hospital, I couldn't get enough to eat. I regained the lost weight and about 10 lbs more within four months. The new weight is all belly fat. Docs have said it's possible to lose weight while on pred, but it's difficult to do so. Fortunately, I have no other health issues. Hope the weight comes off as I increase activity level and gain some will power regarding what I eat.

**drz** · 10-01-2012, 05:29 AM

Originally Posted by Pete

On pred, my stomach never feels full. That's not a good thing for a guy who has been a "food is fuel" type for most of his life. I never had a weight problem and could eat whatever I wanted. Like you, I lost 25 lbs before dx and was also a bit malnourished. Once I got home from hospital, I couldn't get enough to eat. I regained the lost weight and about 10 lbs more within four months. The new weight is all belly fat. Docs have said it's possible to lose weight while on pred, but it's difficult to do so. Fortunately, I have no other health issues. Hope the weight comes off as I increase activity level and gain some will power regarding what I eat.

I think the younger ones who are very active and in good shape have much better luck with controlling the weight gain from pred. Most of us don't seem that lucky but it has been done by a few so it is possible. Good luck for better health and healthier weight.

**KathyB** · 10-01-2012, 09:10 AM

Ahhh, the belly weight. I'm not slim and never have been, but the ring around the tummy has gotten uncomfortably thick!! Yikes!!

KB

**renidrag** · 10-01-2012, 11:40 PM

Even in remission my weight is still a problem. As I sit here and rest my foot on the exercycle, the only part of my body that has touched it in a year, I think I will try the twenty minutes a day and see what happens. Went to new PCP last Friday and had a good meeting. After a short physical he ordered all the bloods and INR et al. Then he asked me how long I had the hernia. I didn't know I had one, then went on to explain other symptoms and he poked a little and told me I had another one. So Friday night after the appt. he called and told me I had crossed the Diabetes line. Felt fine Friday morning and by Friday night I was low in inflammation (good) had two hernias and diabetes. What a day. Got to lose some weight.
Dale