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The impact of Prednisone on A1C
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Apr 25, 2023 | Replies (15)Comment receiving replies
Thank you - I am sure my issue is related to prednisone - no one on either side of my family has ever had diabetes, for starters. The weight gain has not helped either. My rheumatologist has not suggested anything about this and when I asked her to to test my blood sugar levels, she said that was up to my GP. I do not understand this division of labour, but were I to start complaining about gaps/problems with medical treat, well, I would probably never stop. When my Blood test results come through, I will decide about Metformin.
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I would agree that doctors are overly specialized. I have experienced a wide variety of side effects from prednisone. The problems I had were all well known side effects of long term prednisone use.
An ophthalmologist did bilateral lens implants at a young age for premature cataract formation.
A cardiologist prescribed 3 blood pressure medications for extremely high blood pressure in excess of 200/100 resulting in left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). The cardiologist said my heart was being "stretched" and was causing an arrhythmia. No prior history of hypertension or cardiac problems until I started prednisone. Ditto for the extensive and bilateral pulmonary embolism that was called "unprovoked" by a pulmonologist. The pulmonologist said I would need to take lifelong warfarin so it wouldn't happen again.
I had extremely high cholesterol levels probably caused by prednisone. I'm sure the 50# weight gain within a year was prednisone induced. My GP started me on 40 mg of atorvastatin. My GP deferred to my rheumatologist for getting me off prednisone.
Finally, when I was able to taper off prednisone after 12 years, an endocrinologist found the high insulin level and diagnosed insulin resistance. That was in addition to a low cortisol level and adrenal insufficiency along with "metabolic syndrome" likely caused by long term prednisone use.
My rheumatologist prescribed the prednisone but there were many other specialists who dealt with all the side effects. My rheumatologist "strongly encouraged" me to taper off prednisone and said prednisone was putting me at risk of infections and other things. I had to finally tell my rheumatologist that my body was dependent on prednisone after 12 years and I was unable to to taper off.
I will give my rheumatologist credit for making sure I never ran out of prednisone for 12 years. I will give even more credit for belatedly prescribing a biologic for PMR that allowed me to taper off prednisone in 12 months.
I have been off prednisone for a couple of years. I no longer have a low cortisol level. All three blood pressure medications have been stopped. My atorvastatin dose has been cut from 40 mg to 10 mg. My quality of life has greatly improved. I have no known side effects from the biologic except it might be responsible for keeping my cholesterol level slightly elevated.