Cortisone shots and blood sugar levels

ladioffaith · 12-11-2003, 12:34 AM

I am not a diabetic, but am posting this here because it's more likely to be read by "those in the know."

I am on my third doctor this year. GP #1 and I had differences of opinion, Endo is great but not the one you want to consult about a stomach ache. GP #2 is great and very observant, but doesn't seem to know very much about PCOS and Insulin Resistance, and doesn't seem to get the reason I'm on Metformin. (In fact, she cut my dose in half because she suspected it's the root of my stomach woes and seems to want to find a replacement . . . I have to admit my stomach has been feeling better since I went from 2000 miligrams to 1000.

GP #2 has seen the tests the prior docs did and now has me checking my sugar. I'm doing this mostly to humor her, since my two previous doctors looked at the same results and told me I was not diabetic. (Endo even asked me if GP #1 had me monitoring my glucose, and when I told her no, she said good because she didn't think it was necessary. When I see the endo in February, I plan to ask her to help me educate my new GP.

Anyway, the problem is today, I went to a podiatrist (can you tell I'm rushing to get everything in before the end of the calendar year?) and he gave me a cortisone shot in my foot. I know from past observation of my late diabetic mother that these shots play havoc with glucose levels. I do not want to test my glucose as long as this shot could be throwing me off base.

So my question is . . . how long should I wait before I start testing again? So far, my results have all been in the normal range.

Tlynn · 12-11-2003, 06:15 PM

Hi, one cortisone shot should not change your sugar levels into abnormal range. I've been testing since long before I was "officially" diagnosed with Type II, and I had a series of three cortisone shots in my foot, which my Endo said should not have caused any increase in blood glucose. I was arguing FOR this to have caused my increase - since I was in denial as to having diabetes

Unfortunately, it wasn't the cortisone!
Hope this helps.

ladioffaith · 12-11-2003, 07:20 PM

Thank you for your quick reply.

I did end up checking my sugar last night because I just wasn't feeling right, and found a way to mark the tests so they won't count against my average. I was a bit lightheaded and my kidneys were going into overtime, despite having very little to drink all day. I was also very hot. Anyway, it was high . . . but not off the charts high . . . and I think it was a combination of the cortisone shot earlier in the day and the unhealthy snack involving nothing but sugar, fat and chocolate I had consumed that day.

Since it was still a bit out of the normal range, I went ahead and took a glucophage, reasoning that the endo had prescribed me 2000 mg, and I had only taken 1000 that day. It dropped considerably after just an hour.

I still think the cortisone has some bearing on this, based on family history. So I'm going to give it a week, unless I hear different in this thread.

cystermoon · 12-13-2003, 11:37 PM

Here's my two cents worth! My FIL who is also Type II diabetic had to have cortisone shots for his knee and it increased his blood sugar levels severely.

I don't know what it true or not but maybe you should consider that your dr may not be right in saying it has no affect. (Not all drs know everything despite what you may think. A voice of experience speaking!)

And maybe it is one of those things that it only affects certain people more than others!

ladioffaith · 12-16-2003, 10:17 PM

It seemed to affect my levels for about 24 hours. Things were OK after that. So it was the cortisone . . . but only for a day or so.

I guess I would have worried more if my initial readings had been significanlty higher.

Mandi-Lou · 12-16-2003, 10:28 PM

I agree with Cystermoon that it definately CAN effect your sugar levels. I know this because my Mum has type 2 diabeties and has taken ALOT of cortisone both through injections and in tablet form. In fact that is what bought on her diabeties condition. She had normal sugar levels before taking any of these meds but after a while it affected her so badly that she is now an insulin dependant diabetic. Yes she more than likely would have had it in the long run anyway, but this drug just bought it out quicker.

I suggest that anytime you have these injections that you monitor yourself carefully. It might be that the dose of the injection wasn't a high one, but still something to watch out for. And DON'T always trust what one doctor says.

~Mandi