Hi -- I've been lurking for a while. Great information and support here!

I'm Type II, diagnosed in October '06, on Metformin 500mg twice daily. Just in the last three weeks, I found the resolve to keep a really tight control on my blood sugars. I've been eating something every 2 hours to keep my hunger down, exercising, and making sure that my 2-hour post-meal bs is below 120. I feel much better and have lost 7 pounds (woo hoo!). But yesterday, I put a bit of a topical steroid medication on a patch of inflamed skin on my knee. And I was *so* hungry all day yesterday, that I could barely stay on plan!

I know steroids will affect diabetes, but I was wondering if anyone else had found that a topical affected them that way? I'm trying to decide if the hunger was all in my mind

Thanks!

This is just my opinion - but I highly doubt a topical steroid (cortisone ??) could cause hunger. They are used evryday by millions for rashes, bug bites etc and I've never heard of that before. I use it for itching and have never experienced any hunger because of it. That said - maybe you are highly sensitive to cortisone ??????? I think it was probably coincidence. JMO

WOO HOO on the weight loss BTW - good for you !!!!!!!!!!!!!

It does seem like an odd side effect but most topical applications are actually absorbed into the system to some extent and a lot of normally safe medications are considered a little "iffy" for diabetics. Did you test your BGL top see if there was any impact there?

I'd suggest you discuss your concerns with either (or both) your pharmacist or your doctor to be sure.

BTW . . . welcome to the Diabetes Support Forum and . Hope you'll be joining us on our regular monthly thread . . . Dieting with Diabetes.

Have a great evening, chickie . . .

Thanks to both of you for your support and input! My blood sugar was a bit higher than usual that evening (141), but I have to admit I think that was diet related. I have an appointment with my doc next Thursday. I think for now I will just suffer through the itchies and not use the medication.