Back on Low Carb! Prednisone Issues..

Jennie Bean · 01-22-2009, 10:29 PM

Good Evening!!

I'm restarting my Low Carb lifestyle. I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic in 05, lost about 30 lbs in 2 and a half months, and was so healthy. Gained it all back over the years and now am 5'3 weighing 152 lbs and my sugar is not great.

I do not want to have to get on medication for the rest of my life, I'm 25 years old. Also, I'm on prednisone for the next 15 days (for a horrible random case of hives) which is making my blood sugar spike super high even eating low carb. I was told to stay away from wheat products while on the medication...

Where do I begin? I forget about induction and need to eat frequently 4x's a day with the bills, I'm terrified of not only my sugar, but also gaining weight while on prednisone. What should I eat? HELP!

Blood Sugar 101 · 01-23-2009, 06:25 AM

Jennie,

You will just have to wait out the Prednisone. It may make you hungry no matter what you eat because it does raise blood sugar even with a low carb diet.

You will have to just separate the signals your body sends you from what actions you take. If you eat to address hunger, you will still be hungry. So just make your mind up not to eat anything but what you have decided is appropriate. Keep calories where they need to be to maintain your current weight. You can get back to weight loss when the prednisone is out of your system.

Eating more calories than you burn is still needed to gain weight. Prednisone will pack some water on you, so don't panic when the scale goes up. It will go away later.

Khewes · 01-23-2009, 06:44 AM

I have been on prednisone multiple times for my rheumatoid, and I am happy to say that that particular side effect is one I didn't suffer with.

Stay strong, you can do it!

pandora0404 · 01-23-2009, 07:33 AM

prednisone sucks, sorry you are having to take it. It always makes me hungry and thirsty. I would say to eat stuff like celery (foods high in water content) if it is between meals. The scale will probably go up a bit no matter what you do, but at least if it is mainly just water then it will be easier to get rid of.

KajunDC · 01-23-2009, 07:39 AM

Sorry to hear you are on the prednisone. What that steroid does to your body and intestines and joints, muscles and ligaments is absolutely criminal. Definitely don't want to stay on it any longer than a few days and best not to use it more than 1-2 times in your life, it is that dangerous.

It'll probably cause weight gain due to the fluid retention and puffiness and it can cause bad hunger cravings. Fortunately the long-term damage after 15 days should be fairly minimal.

Good luck.

BrianSCohen · 01-23-2009, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jennie Bean

Good Evening!!

I'm restarting my Low Carb lifestyle. I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic in 05, lost about 30 lbs in 2 and a half months, and was so healthy. Gained it all back over the years and now am 5'3 weighing 152 lbs and my sugar is not great.

I do not want to have to get on medication for the rest of my life, I'm 25 years old. Also, I'm on prednisone for the next 15 days (for a horrible random case of hives) which is making my blood sugar spike super high even eating low carb. I was told to stay away from wheat products while on the medication...

Where do I begin? I forget about induction and need to eat frequently 4x's a day with the bills, I'm terrified of not only my sugar, but also gaining weight while on prednisone. What should I eat? HELP!

Unfortunately, steroids can drive your blood sugar absolutely crazy. You are right to test your blood sugar closely. As a prediabetic, your condition would normal change slowly over time. With prednisone, you could go south in a day. Try to eat low carb, taking in limited measured amounts of carbs with each meal. Try to eat 4-6 times a day to spread things out. Should your blood sugar go over 300 mg/dl you could call your doctor. Just closely monitor things and you should be fine.

un4givun2 · 01-23-2009, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KajunDC

Sorry to hear you are on the prednisone. What that steroid does to your body and intestines and joints, muscles and ligaments is absolutely criminal. Definitely don't want to stay on it any longer than a few days and best not to use it more than 1-2 times in your life, it is that dangerous.

It'll probably cause weight gain due to the fluid retention and puffiness and it can cause bad hunger cravings. Fortunately the long-term damage after 15 days should be fairly minimal.

Good luck.

I used to have to take that stuff 12-15 years ago for hives. Doctor never would give me more than 7 days worth because he said it would kill me.

01-22-2009, 10:29 PM	#1
Jennie Bean Junior LCF Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 42 Gallery: Jennie Bean Stats: 156/145/115 WOE: Low Carb Start Date: 2-15-2012-Restart	Back on Low Carb! Prednisone Issues.. Good Evening!! I'm restarting my Low Carb lifestyle. I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic in 05, lost about 30 lbs in 2 and a half months, and was so healthy. Gained it all back over the years and now am 5'3 weighing 152 lbs and my sugar is not great. I do not want to have to get on medication for the rest of my life, I'm 25 years old. Also, I'm on prednisone for the next 15 days (for a horrible random case of hives) which is making my blood sugar spike super high even eating low carb. I was told to stay away from wheat products while on the medication... Where do I begin? I forget about induction and need to eat frequently 4x's a day with the bills, I'm terrified of not only my sugar, but also gaining weight while on prednisone. What should I eat? HELP!

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01-23-2009, 06:25 AM	#2
Blood Sugar 101 Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New England Posts: 2,895 Gallery: Blood Sugar 101 Stats: 1998-2009 170/142/145---2010 138/142/138 WOE: 80-100g per day. Metformin (no more prandin!) Start Date: First LC diet 1998, goal 2003, continual vigilance	Jennie, You will just have to wait out the Prednisone. It may make you hungry no matter what you eat because it does raise blood sugar even with a low carb diet. You will have to just separate the signals your body sends you from what actions you take. If you eat to address hunger, you will still be hungry. So just make your mind up not to eat anything but what you have decided is appropriate. Keep calories where they need to be to maintain your current weight. You can get back to weight loss when the prednisone is out of your system. Eating more calories than you burn is still needed to gain weight. Prednisone will pack some water on you, so don't panic when the scale goes up. It will go away later.

01-23-2009, 06:44 AM	#3
Khewes Big Yapper!!!! Join Date: May 2006 Location: Delaware-the highway construction state Posts: 8,227 Gallery: Khewes	I have been on prednisone multiple times for my rheumatoid, and I am happy to say that that particular side effect is one I didn't suffer with. Stay strong, you can do it!

01-23-2009, 07:33 AM	#4
pandora0404 Senior LCF Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: SC Posts: 523 Gallery: pandora0404 Stats: 219/196/160 WOE: Atkins Start Date: Jan 5th 2009	prednisone sucks, sorry you are having to take it. It always makes me hungry and thirsty. I would say to eat stuff like celery (foods high in water content) if it is between meals. The scale will probably go up a bit no matter what you do, but at least if it is mainly just water then it will be easier to get rid of.

01-23-2009, 07:39 AM	#5
KajunDC Natural Healthcare Chiropractor Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Mandeville, LA (Just North of New Orleans) Posts: 3,210 Gallery: KajunDC Stats: Lost 115lbs 2004. Maintaining ever since. WOE: Lower Carb Mediterranean-Style Organic Diet Start Date: Low Carb-Mar04, BFFM-Jul05, P90-X-Dec24,08	Sorry to hear you are on the prednisone. What that steroid does to your body and intestines and joints, muscles and ligaments is absolutely criminal. Definitely don't want to stay on it any longer than a few days and best not to use it more than 1-2 times in your life, it is that dangerous. It'll probably cause weight gain due to the fluid retention and puffiness and it can cause bad hunger cravings. Fortunately the long-term damage after 15 days should be fairly minimal. Good luck.