Diabetes When treating MM.

Hi Matt

Don't think you are being paranoid in any way

A few years ago I was put on prednisolone, and a very high dose, I'm also type2 diabetic and was on 2 types of insulin and within days of starting to take prednisolone my blood sugars started to rise. If we take it that the range should 4 to 7 mmol/L before meals and under 8.5 mmol/L At least 90 minutes after meals (post prandial) I was running in the mid 30's mmmol/L and on quite a few occasions my meter could not take a reading as it was so high and out with the meter range. I spoke to my GP who did not know anything about it so I contact the diabetic nurses at the hospital who confirmed that prednisolone would affect my blood sugars and we started to adjust my insulin dosage but it only started to come down when I was weaned off them.

My suggestion speak to your diabetic team at the hospital and discuss it with them if for nothing else just piece of mind.

On a side note whilst I was on Prednisolone I was admitted to a different hospital as an emergency and the doctors decided to stop them immediately and I had to explain that I couldn't stop and only after they consulted Dr Google did they agree that I was correct and it was not stopped.

Don't know about them being on the same page I get concerned that they might not even be using the same book!

• Your wife should have a blue card showing that she is on steroids which shows the dosage and should be produced to every medic who gives her treatment

Prednisolone is a type of medicine known as a corticosteroid or steroid and is used to treat a wide range of health problems including allergies, blood disorders, skin diseases, infections, certain cancers and to prevent organ rejection after a transplant.

I see that you've asked a nurse a similar question hopefully she will give you more information it might be helpful, if you know it, to add to your post the name of the steroid your wife will be taking

Kind Regards 

Ian

Note: Apologies greg777 for butting in on this one so quickly.

Hi Matt,

The steroid given in myeloma treatment is most normally dexamethasone - which in my experience is a less strong steroid. Your wife will want to have some steroid involvement as it’s been proven to make the myeloma treatment more effective, but as my friend Ian has said, it’s definitely best to talk this through with the medical teams. I’m sure they will monitor your wife’s bloods very closely, but it’s always best to air any concerns that you have - you are definitely your own best advocate.

I hope your wife’s treatment goes really well and please stick around to let us know how things are going.

Greg

Thats great greg thanks for the reply.

Matthew

Much appreciated for the comprehensive information Ian

Thanks

Matthew