Took Steroid For Eye Disease Sarcodiosis. Can It Cause Diabetes?

Posted on Wed, 28 Aug 2013

Question: I am not a diabetic until last month. I was taking treatment for my eye disease sarcodiosis. Steroids prescribed. Before I was given omanocortil 40 reduced to 10 and stopped. One month gap followed. Treatment continued. Wysolone is prescribed. 70 started now reduced to 25 will be reduced 20 and then to 15 and so on after weeks.

My problem is this this:

Last month sugar level Fasting: 90
Last week 118
Today: 198 all fasting.
Please advise whether this diabetes will go once treatment is stopped?
What to do at least to control it now?
I go for urinating 4 times during night and so during the day. sometimes urines passes outeven before reaching toilet. ha ha

Answered by Dr. Aparna Amritsagar (31 minutes later)

Hello,
Thanks for writing your query to us.

Steroid can raise blood sugar levels called steroid induced diabetes. Usually it is transient, disappear once steroids are stopped. But in some cases it may be long lasting. So you need to take care.

Your today blood sugar fast is 119 mg/dl. Your sugar levels can be controlled by dietary restriction & exercise. At present there is no need to start oral diabetes medicines.

Start brisk walking or any form of exercise which you enjoy doing for 30 minutes per day.

Avoid all forms of sugar products like sweets, cakes, biscuits.
Have a high fiber diet.
Have small frequent meals.
Include salads & fruits in your diet. Avoid fruits which have high sugar contents like banana .
Don't skip meals. This will fluctuate sugar levels.

Check your sugar levels after 1 month of following strict diet & exercise regimen. If it is still high than oral medicines need to be started to keep sugars in control.

I hope I have answered your query. In case you have any further query, I will be happy to help you.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Aparna Amritsagar (15 hours later)

Very good. Thanks for kind response.

However when tested personally yesterday, it jumped to 198 (fasting) I shall keep up your advise.

Answered by Dr. Aparna Amritsagar (25 minutes later)

Hello,

Please follow the suggestions,so that you can keep your sugar levels in control.

Also you need to check both fasting as well as postprandial (2hours after lunch) blood sugar levels atleast once a week when sugar levels are high & than once in 3 months when sugar levels come back to normal.
Take care.

Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar