The side-effects of long-term steroid use — particularly weight gain — can cause real angst. It sounds bizarre, but try a sniff of vanilla essence every time you crave something sweet. Tell your https://xgolf.ae/exploring-the-uses-and-effects-of-reduction/ doctor straight away if you come into contact with someone who has an infectious disease such as measles, chickenpox or shingles. Your doctor may be able to prescribe a medicine to protect you.
If you do come into contact with someone who has them, tell your healthcare team straight away. Take your steroids exactly as your health professional has told you. To reduce the chances of eyesight problems, visit an optometrist every 12 months to check for high pressure in your eye and cataracts. If you have diabetes, you may need to check your blood glucose more often.
You might not be able to start steroids if you have an infection, or if you have any wounds on your body, as steroids might delay these getting better or cover up some of your symptoms. For new medicines, the manufacturer then has to recruit children and newborns into trials and subsequently amend the PIL with the approved information. Older medicines may have been used effectively for many years in children without problems but the manufacturer has not been required to collect data and amend the licence.
- They can offer advice if you are having difficulties with eating, or you are losing weight.
- In some cases, stopping steroid medicines suddenly causes an ‘adrenal crisis’.
- You need a lot of short courses of steroid tablets because of asthma attacks.
- But before you start any new physical activity, speak to your diabetes team.
- This can be frightening, but it goes away when you stop taking the steroids.
Your doctor may advise you to take drugs called bisphosphonates, or calcium and vitamin D supplements, along with the steroids to help prevent this. Regular exercise, especially things that involve your bones carrying the weight of your body, such as walking, can also help to reduce the risk of getting osteoporosis. Steroids affect your child’s immune system, so they shouldn’t have any ‘live’ vaccines if they’re receiving a high dose of injected or oral steroids.
Carry a steroid card
Treatment with steroids may cause changes in mood – you may feel very high or very low. This may be more common in people with a previous history of mood disturbance. If you’re worried about this, talk to the person who is prescribing your steroids about it.
This can be caused by Dexamethasone , which is often needed for treatment of cancer. Steroid induced diabetes is when the level of sugar in the blood is too high. Echinacea is sometimes thought to boost immunity, fight cancer and improve side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Cancer information and support
Some people find it easier and more satisfying to eat little and often rather than the traditional 3 meals a day. This way food is never far away and it will stop you getting over hungry. There are 2 main reasons why people can gain weight when they are taking steroids. In general your blood sugar level will return to normal after you stop taking Dexamethasone.
NHS Steroid Emergency Card (red card)
This type of fat is found in foods such as butter, fatty cuts of meat, cakes, and many processed foods, such as sausages and crisps. Too much saturated fat increases health risks including heart disease and stroke. For people with diabetes, weight loss surgery isn’t just about weight loss. It is now seen as an actual treatment for type 2 diabetes, and the weight loss is a bonus.
