SOS! Problems with Glucose Levels After Taking Prednisone. Anyone Else?

[IvanRus]

Greetings

I took prednisone for a tinnitus spike for 5 days. Dose regimen was 40-40-40-20-15 mg. On the fifth day, I had symptoms of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). This is a serious side effect of corticoids (especially with long-term use in high doses).

I started with dry mouth, polyuria (increased urine). In the morning I had a veil before the eyes, and for a long time I could not make out the letters in the smartphone, I also have a headache.

Tell me, did anyone else have this when taking corticosteroids?

I measured glucose with a glucometer and the result was 5.5 mmol. I am not sure about the accuracy of this reading.

Very afraid of some complications with glucose levels. In diabetes, there are various neuropathies, and the auditory nerve may also suffer.

 

[another sean]

It's a known side effect. What happens is prednisone reduces the efficacy of insulin in your body so you body cant transport the sugar in to your cells and has to flush it out instead. This happened to me. I was urinating after 10 minutes of drinking anything. Was very dehydrated and had to stop. I was fine afterwards. But I think I have insulin resistance already so the prednisone pushed my glucose over the edge. a month ago discovered my fasting glucose was 110 so I've avoided sugar for the past month. It's now down to 80 thankfully. You might want to keep closer tabs on your glucose after you are finished with prednisone since it pushed yours over the edge as well.

 

[IvanRus]

It's now down to 80 thankfully

80 mmol?! Are you sure you're not confused? That is deadly. The norm is in the range of 3.1-5.5 mmol. Are you taking diabetes medicine?

 

[Bill Bauer]

I measured glucose with a glucometer and the result was 5.5 mmol. I am not sure about the accuracy of this reading.

Are you sure this wasn't caused by your consuming a food that raised your blood sugar?

Very afraid of some complications with glucose levels.

The damage happens if one has high blood sugar for a long time. Having it for a day or two shouldn't cause problems. In the future you might consider increasing the threshold that causes you to begin taking Prednisone.

 

[IvanRus]

Are you sure this wasn't caused by your consuming a food that raised your blood sugar?

I checked in the morning on an empty stomach. Did you have similar problems after prednisone? How many times have you taken it since the beginning of tinnitus?
I have at least 8 times.

 

[Bill Bauer]

I checked in the morning on an empty stomach.

5.5 mmol/L is actually in the normal range!
See
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_care/blood-sugar-level-ranges.html
At the link above, in one place they say that 5.9 mmol/L and below is normal, and in another place they say that 5.4 mmol/L and below is normal. If it is the latter, your blood sugar is a Little high. It is possible/likely that this is Not because of Prednisone. At one time I have had some cake, and the next morning my blood sugar was something like 5.9 mmol/L.

 

[Bill Bauer]

Did you have similar problems after prednisone?

No.

How many times have you taken it since the beginning of tinnitus?

Four times, but because I have limited supply of Prednisone, many of those times I only had 1-2 pills...

 

[Bill Bauer]

80 mmol?! Are you sure you're not confused?

He is using mg/dL scale, and of course on that scale 80 is in the normal range.

 

[Bart]

Greetings

I took prednisone for a tinnitus spike for 5 days. Dose regimen was 40-40-40-20-15 mg. On the fifth day, I had symptoms of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). This is a serious side effect of corticoids (especially with long-term use in high doses).

I started with dry mouth, polyuria (increased urine). In the morning I had a veil before the eyes, and for a long time I could not make out the letters in the smartphone, I also have a headache.

Tell me, did anyone else have this when taking corticosteroids?

I measured glucose with a glucometer and the result was 5.5 mmol. I am not sure about the accuracy of this reading.

Very afraid of some complications with glucose levels. In diabetes, there are various neuropathies, and the auditory nerve may also suffer.

This is a rare and temporary side-effect from taking corticosteroids , glucose levels should return to normal levels after you stop taking the drug , and 5 days is not long-term use .

Just contact the prescribing doctor if you are worried about it , but you will be fine .

 

[another sean]

80 mmol?! Are you sure you're not confused? That is deadly. The norm is in the range of 3.1-5.5 mmol. Are you taking diabetes medicine?

Sorry, I'm American. We are very confused. We have stupid measurement systems and still use inches and feet.

 

[IvanRus]

This is a rare and temporary side-effect from taking corticosteroids , glucose levels should return to normal levels after you stop taking the drug , and 5 days is not long-term use .

Just contact the prescribing doctor if you are worried about it , but you will be fine .

How often do you have to take prednisone?
How many short courses have you done in the last year?