Along with my lupus, I have polymyositis and occasional thyroid problems. I've been blessed, because prednisone and thyroid meds were all I needed. Best wishes to you.

Thank you for your comment nanny1611, I did prednisone for about 21 days during the summer, but it really messed up my blood sugar levels. I'm wondering if the Methotrexate and Plaquenil are affecting my sugars now. What is polymyositis
? I hope that you are doing well!

There are different forms of myositis. With polymyositis (PM), one's muscles become inflamed, causing increased weakness (so bad you can't even lift a dish, comb your hair, get up from a seated position, or walk stairs), muscle wasting, immobility (I was nearly immobile from the jaw downward), and then death. Mine was diagnosed a few weeks before I would have died and prednisone worked in decreasing inflammation and giving me some strength and mobility back. In dermatomyositis (DM) there is also skin involvement. Even though I was diagnosed with PM, the skin biopsies that diagnosed my lupus also suggested DM. And the muscle biopsy that was done was inconclusive for PM or DM because the high doses of prednisone skewed the test, so doctors are not really sure which form I have. There is a third form called Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM), which is slower moving, but resistant to any form of treatment.

I understand about the prednisone messing with your blood sugar. My dad was on it and became Type 2 diabetic as a result, so I was scared taking it and ate super carefully. They started me on 100 mg. daily and weaned down over a 3-year period. It's a scary med, but the Lord used it to save my life. On the myositis forum here at DS, we describe it as having a "love-hate" relationship with prednisone.

HELLO-i'm with you on this one. Type 1 diabetic for almost 40 yrs, celiacs disease & yes, lupus. I really do get it I take novorapid insulin before eacg meal & lantus before bed. I too am on methotrexate & plaquenil. The methotrexate really does help me but even now I have times where I wonder ab t the plaquenil. I do know it took a while for them to kick in & I think it can vary fr person to person. The biggest key for success for me is being strict as possible with my life style.

Hi kitty3, how long have you had the lupus? Thanks for replying, I wondered if I was the only one with diabetes and lupus. I'm learning that lupus is hereditary and I have a daughter 31 I'm worried might get lupus, she has been lucky not to get diabetes. I'm learning so much about lupus and I'm so overwhelmed about it all.

Attempting to take this stuff one day at a time, but confusion creeps up on me really fast sometimes. Think I need to find some ways to de-stress, just not there yet.

When you say lifestyle, are you referring to eating habits? I find that eating more veggies and fruits is really helping me. Yes, I'm losing weight, but I'm glad too, I'm over my normal weight and have been for some years. Already lost 25 pounds and would like to lose 25 more. I take Novolog before meals and Levemir is my long acting insulin. I really did wonder if Methotrexate or Plaquenil raise my sugars, but I will need to ask the doctor next time, since I'm not sure. Thanks kitty3.

I am diabetic as well. I do not have type 1. I have type 2. I was on prednisone dose packs once a month for a flare when the diabetes was first discovered. They took me off the prednisone hoping that would reverse the high sugars but it did not. I am now insulin dependent and also take oral diabetes meds.
Like you, I am a walking pharmacy! I was taking methotrexate and plaquenil for a while before the diabetes diagnosis but had a reaction to the plaquenil after about 2 years being on it. Currently, I get a monthly infusion of Benlysta for the Lupus. Methotrexate did absolutely nothing for me.
Not being able to take the steroids has been horrible. They really helped with the flares.