All of us that suffer from asthma or any other illness that require use of steroids, can suffer from irreversible damage.  One of the serious problems that develop with steroids is Diabetes type 2, or what some doctors call steroid diabetes.  Some of the other side effects of steroids include swollen legs and feet, excessive weight in a short period of time, damage to major organs and dependency on the steroids.

I was diagnosed with Diabetes 2, 5 months ago, and of course my way of life changed, now I have to measure the amounts of food that I can eat, and I am on a very healthy and strict diet.  My question was how come I had developed diabetes.  No one in my family has ever had it.  The doctor explained to me that I have steroid diabetes.

This diabetes is a direct result of the huge amounts of steroids I received to keep my asthma under control.  There are 2 types of diabetes.  Diabetes 1, which is inherited and requires daily insulin shots until the end of time, and there is Diabetes 2 which can be controlled oral medication and can be also controlled with a good healthy diet and exercise.  One of the major differences between type 1 and type 2 is that type 2 can go away.  If you suffer from Diabetes 2, please follow your diet and follow your doctor's insructions in order to keep it under control, as you run the risk to become a diabetic 1.  And for what I have heard, that is not fun at all.

There is another way you can get diabetes.  You just need to put on massive weight in a very short time.  I am sure there is more to it that what I have just finished telling you, and I truly hope you listen to what I am saying   This is the beginning of a healing process that is long and can cause despair as we don't see the results immediately.

If you are taking steroids, find as much literature as you can on the relationship between the steroids and diabetes.

I am sure that if you suffer from asthma, you have spent many countless hours with your doctor getting as much medication and information as possible, not only about your asthma but the effects that the medication you are taking to control it has on the rest of the body.  Once again, if you have not done so, I encourage you to inform yourself as much as you can on any type of medication you are taking.  Sometimes, when you discover what some of the results of the medications you are taking are, it may be too late and you will find yourself dealing with an illness you didn't count on before.

I cannot stress enough that the more you know, the better you can control your environment.  After all, your health is not only the responsibility of your physician but  yours as well.