Hi everyone, I am looking to understand and make contact with others that have steroid induced diabetes. I was diagnosed 3 weeks ago with the condition and received a call from the diabetic team at my GP and put on Gliclazide 40mg, my diabetes has come on since being diagnosed with a rare auto immune disease Neuromyelitis Optica in December 22 after suffering paralysis, this has left me with which multiple spinal cord and brain lesions. I have problems with my mobility and very little sensory feeling in my whole torso and limbs and I suffer with constant neuropathic pain. During the last 2 months I have a heart stent put in,high cholesterol and now diabetes all as a result of the medication to treat the immune disease. Since taking Gliclazide I have suffered with really bad headaches and nausea, so I contacted the diabetes team and could not get an appointment until today on the phone but took myself off the medication. I have now been told I have to go back on meds and possibly to change to Metamormin but I do not have an appointment with the doctor until the 27th Feb to discuss the side effects. My current HbAIc blood result is 75 which from what I have learnt is very high. I swapped my diet to the Fast800 Mediterranean diet and read up all about carbs and am trying to lose weight. Exercise is very difficult due to the mobility issues. I would like to hear from others who have also had these problems as a result of steroids. I was originally on 60mg of Presipdone for 8 months and am now down to 8mg a day with the hope of not taking anymore by December 24. It would be also useful to know what side effects Metamorim has when on steroids and heart medication & statins. Your expertise and thoughts are appreciated thanks Fran
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Newly diagnosed with type 2 steroid induced Diabetes advice needed
- Thread starter franHH
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Inka
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Welcome @franHH 🙂 I’m sorry to hear about your condition - it sounds very unpleasant, not to mention the other health issues too. They must make things hard.
There are a few people here with steroid-induced diabetes. I’m struggling to remember any names but I’ll tag them if I do remember.
Do you test your blood sugar at home? If so, what kind of readings are you getting?
There are a few people here with steroid-induced diabetes. I’m struggling to remember any names but I’ll tag them if I do remember.
Do you test your blood sugar at home? If so, what kind of readings are you getting?
I was given a contour plus machine to test my blood sugars, and the results are improving day by day, when i spoke with the nurse she said not to bother doing it as the tablets i had been supplied with should tackle the problem, just to be aware of hypo’s and what they are. However BS results have been better since stopping the medication!
trophywench
Well-Known Member
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- Type 1
Bit of a vicious circle here for you Fran. Higher than normal blood glucose can cause neuropathy on its own - so if someone already has that pain it's likely to make it worse - so the first reaction is to prescribe something to reduce that blood glucose reading asap, which is what they did. A few years back I met a (Type 2) lady who was on another diabetes forum, who lived near me whose relative became diabetic whilst in our local hospital with some lung problem treated by heavy duty steroids. They actually treated her with insulin - so I sent her what official insulin treatment information I happened to have, but anyway as she recovered at home from the lung thing, still on insulin, her diabetes gradually completely resolved itself. I have absolutely no idea whatsoever whether that's normal, or not. And OK it sounds like you have done the right thing for you - but truthfully, I have absolutely no idea what's right or what's wrong in your situation.
Is there any way you can get a copy of your home testing results to that doc soon to demonstrate exactly why you stopped taking the tablets - and ask for his comments asap?
Is there any way you can get a copy of your home testing results to that doc soon to demonstrate exactly why you stopped taking the tablets - and ask for his comments asap?
Morning Inka, thank you for responding, my home testing has been showing after meals an average over the last 14 days of 8.8 I thought this was good?
Thanks Jenny for the advice, I will try and download the results from my testing machine to show the doctor and discuss further.
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
If you also test before you eat so you have paired readings and if the increase is more than 2-3mmol/l then perhaps you could trim a few carbs from your meal to get your 2 hour post meal readings to be below 8-8.5mmol/l so you are not far off.
It sounds as if under the circumstances you are going well.
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Sorry to hear what a tough time you’ve been having with your health recently @franHH and how the treatment for one thing has led to others 
Steroids have a known reputation for raising glucose levels, so while you are taking them for the one condition your body may need some extra help and support in managing glucose levels.
Sorry to hear you struggled with Gliclazide. There are multiple alternative glucose-lowering meds your Dr could consider.
Glic works by encouraging the pancreas to release additional insulin, so that there is extra circulating to ‘mop up’ the additional glucose released in response to the steroids.
Metformin doesn’t work directly to reduce glucose levels, but more ‘in the background’ by improving insulin sensitivity, and reducing glucose output from the liver.
I would imagine there would be evidence-based suggestions of which medication(s) are most likely to help in steroid-induced diabetes as first-line, and then subsequent additions.
There are a few suggestions of options here, including insulin (which is nothing to be scared of or worried by if it’s the most successful option)
www.diabetes.org.uk
Steroids have a known reputation for raising glucose levels, so while you are taking them for the one condition your body may need some extra help and support in managing glucose levels.
Sorry to hear you struggled with Gliclazide. There are multiple alternative glucose-lowering meds your Dr could consider.
Glic works by encouraging the pancreas to release additional insulin, so that there is extra circulating to ‘mop up’ the additional glucose released in response to the steroids.
Metformin doesn’t work directly to reduce glucose levels, but more ‘in the background’ by improving insulin sensitivity, and reducing glucose output from the liver.
I would imagine there would be evidence-based suggestions of which medication(s) are most likely to help in steroid-induced diabetes as first-line, and then subsequent additions.
There are a few suggestions of options here, including insulin (which is nothing to be scared of or worried by if it’s the most successful option)
Steroid-induced diabetes
Steroids can cause high blood glucose (sugar) levels. That’s why some people who take steroids go on to develop diabetes. This is known as steroid-induced diabetes, and is more common in people who are at higher risk of type 2 diabetes. What are steroids? Steroids are also known as...
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