I had the purple rash around my eyes and in my eyes actually. I had a red rash on my chest, arms, head and back. My fingers were the big clue, with redness around my cuticles. My docs NP caught mine on the 2nd visit. Im from a small town in Ky.

I 1st found out I was a diabetic 2 this past Oct. I started taking oral meds. I had been having muscle weakness in my legs for the past 9 months. It was hard going up stairs and now it's hard to get up from a sitting position or the bath tub. I have a red rash on the tops of my fingers and hands, also my legs and some on the outside of my arms. I had a muscle biopsy on the calve of my left leg. The test came back positive for Polymyositis. I googled and already knew I had this. Now my doctor wants me to take 60 mgs of Prednisone for a month and see how I do. I really don't want to take the drug. It will cause my blood sugar to get high and I have insulin just in case I do need it. I'm afraid that if I have to start using insulin, that I will become a insulin using diabetic type 1. Right now I'm doing a great job of watching my sugar intake and I feel good. From what I've heard and seen, prednisone can make one feel like crap. I just don't know what to do. Will this polymyositis get worse? The doctor tells me that it will and I should immediately start on steriods. I'm here looking for answers and personal info from others. Thanks.

You cannot become a type 1 diabetic from a type 2 diabetic. You will just be an insulin using type 2 diabetic. The PM will get worse without the steroids. Long ago I was on 80mg per day. It does stink (mood swings, blood sugar,insomnia, weight gain, etc) but in the long run it's better. I've had PM for 23 years (in remission 18yrs). There are other drugs to use but the steroids will work immediately. The weakness will just get worse the longer you wait. I hope you can make a decision soon.

Prednisone is a great drug but also evil.. as an oncology bone marrow transplant nurse I am very familiar with the side effects.. I've been on 40 mg a day for over 3 months along with weekly methotrexate.. my main thing all along has been my shortness of breath.. never seems like a full breath.. going up stairs,, hiking,, trying to run just can't breath.. anyone else have this problem..
legs feel like jello at times.. but then again I haven't been working out,, docs orders.. the pred isn't really helping the shortness of breath,, so it makes me wonder if I should still be on it...
Ask your doc for Wellbutrin or clonazepam to counter the emotional effects of the prednisone,,, watch your simple carbs to keep your sugars down because yes,, pred can cause steroid induced diabetes along with blood pressure issues.. also my eyes have been really dry and blurry anyone have this problem..
still trying to figure things out.. frustrated....

Audibleprocesser... I have interstital lung disease (lots-o-SOB) too (on 'riods for that), but I still sometimes get short of breath, particularly when climbing stairs or lying down, or exercising (I swim). I don't think it's real common but w/PM you can also have some respiratory muscle weakness that steroids just won't help. Also steroids can cause muscle weakness particularly respiratory and ocular muscles (I'm a pharmacist-inpatient). This will cause SOB and poss blurry vision. Could also be cataracts (pred) or Sjorgren's syndrome (autoimmune dx that causes dry eyes/mouth). Do you have lung involvement?? Make sure you have had that checked out. Good luck!!

I've been on pred now for about 4 months and mtx.. planning to see the eye doc this week,, eyes are dry and blurry.. the breathing is like never getting a full breath,, and when trying to run,, hike etc.. it is impossible,,the fatigue is crazy,, earning my attention thats for sure...
I've also been having some labs done because my lactic acid was elevated with a special PFT test.. then I just had an ischemic forarm lactic acid study done with elevated results.. neurologist isn't sure what to do with it all.. but it means lack of oxygen to break up the glycogen and cytokines and making it into lactic acid... oh joy.. thus I think this is contributing to the breathing,, but what to do.. and who is going to figure it out..