Myasthenia Gravis Support Group
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a neuromuscular disease leading to fluctuating muscle weakness and fatiguability. The hallmark of myasthenia gravis is muscle weakness that increases during periods of activity and improves after periods of rest. Although myasthenia gravis may affect any voluntary muscle, muscles that control eye and eyelid movement, facial expression, and...
Please don't make the same mistake I did and mistake diabetic symptoms for myasthenic symptoms. Some of the symptoms for diabetes are the same as mg such as weakness, shaking, and blurry vision. Make sure your doctor does blood tests regulary to check for diabetes so that you don't end up with irreversible damage.
I thought that the symptoms I was experiencing was because of the mg. None of my doctors had ever said anything about having diabetes so I never gave it a thought. My doctors didn't do blood tests on a regular basis which might have shown that I had it. It turns out that I have had it since last year.
My vision continued to get worse and worse. As we all know, blurry vision is a very common symptom of mg so I thought nothing of it. Unfortunately, my worsening vision was the result of diabetes. My blood sugar level at the time of diagnosis last week was over 500 (normal is between 80 and 140). I was in the hospital for 6 days while they tried to lower my levels. Long term high sugar level can damage the blood vessels in the eyes increasing the blurriness. Unfortunately, I have been told that this damage is irreversable and I will never get my vision back. I have trouble watching a 46 inch tv because it is too blurry. Although they believe the prednisone caused the diabetes and that once off of prednisone the diabetes may go away, the damage to my vision will not go away.
Please make sure this doesn't happen to you by insisting that your docotr does routine blood tests for diabetes and learn all of the signs of low and high blood sugar. I don't want any of you to have to go through what I am going through.
I thought that the symptoms I was experiencing was because of the mg. None of my doctors had ever said anything about having diabetes so I never gave it a thought. My doctors didn't do blood tests on a regular basis which might have shown that I had it. It turns out that I have had it since last year.
My vision continued to get worse and worse. As we all know, blurry vision is a very common symptom of mg so I thought nothing of it. Unfortunately, my worsening vision was the result of diabetes. My blood sugar level at the time of diagnosis last week was over 500 (normal is between 80 and 140). I was in the hospital for 6 days while they tried to lower my levels. Long term high sugar level can damage the blood vessels in the eyes increasing the blurriness. Unfortunately, I have been told that this damage is irreversable and I will never get my vision back. I have trouble watching a 46 inch tv because it is too blurry. Although they believe the prednisone caused the diabetes and that once off of prednisone the diabetes may go away, the damage to my vision will not go away.
Please make sure this doesn't happen to you by insisting that your docotr does routine blood tests for diabetes and learn all of the signs of low and high blood sugar. I don't want any of you to have to go through what I am going through.
Ann
Curt
Very, very sorry - to hear about these troubles you are having.
This is kind of a dirty little secret, of the MG world - isn't it?
Now, now - don't jump on me, for saying that.
How many of you - were told by your neurologist, right up front?
That long-term use of prednisone - could lead to diabetes?
I LOVE my Neuro - yet this was not discussed, not at first.
And none of us - would have prednisone removed -
- from the list of neurological Rx against MG.
Hopefully, as both you and Curt mention?
As your prednisone use declines, so will the diabetes.
As you said, though - the damage is done.
Bless you!
This is one of the important features of our support-group.
Reminding and helping - each other. (Thank you, DS!)
Even? Warning - each other.
Thank you - Ross