splenectomy anniversary

In a celebratory spirit I wanted to post that today is my one year anniversary of my splenectomy.

Briefly, I had ITP for about a decade and for about 8 of those years I was on prednisone every day. I was prednisone dependent- my numbers were coincidentally about the same as the pred dose, so I took about 20 mgs a day to keep my numbers in the 20s. I tried every immunosuppressant to get off the prednisone I could find, including some not usually used to treat ITP (to no avail). I developed diabetes from the prednisone.

Last year my numbers plummeted to zero to 6 for about 2 months. High prednisone dose, IVIG and for a while, Nplate did nothing. Then, i responded to increasing Nplate doses and, with my numbers up, had a splenectomy.

- so far so good: my numbers have been in the 300s. (odd, although I am getting used to it, to get bloodwork every 3 months, instead of weekly or daily). I've been drug free for the first time in a while- the diabetes has reversed.

I'm grateful.

Mark

That's great news! I hope it continues.

So oral prednisone can trigger diabetes? I hadn't heard this, but very superficial research indicates this can happen. Does anyone know if this is primarily associated with higher doses of prednisone? (I've been on prednisone most of the time since 2000, though rarely as high as 20 mg/day--usually between 5 and 10. However, my last blood tests showed not that I have diabetes yet, but that I should be checked again in about 6 months. (I don't have other risk factors for diabetes.)

Karen:

The way I understand it is that Prednisone will cause blood sugar levels to rise, but it is usually temporary until the drug is tapered. Yes, this is generally with higher doses. Prednisone can also trigger diabetes in predisposed individuals, and that may not go away when the drug is stopped.

I have had glucose levels come back as pre-diabetes before and when checked the next time, it's been normal. Those levels can fluctuate. I hope yours is better the next time!

When I was on 50mgs of Pred, it shot my blood sugars through the roof. When I went down to 30mgs, everything went back to normal.

Mark,

So happy to hear you are doing well!

Whenever I am on prednisone my blood sugar goes high. It goes back to normal when I get off. I think it is a very common side effect of prednisone.


Dru