Private Chef, Writer & Podcaster
Living with sarcoidosis means navigating prednisone side effects, adrenal failure, and the emotional chaos of a drug that saves your life while stealing your peace. After decades on prednisone—and four disastrous attempts to taper off—I’ve accepted that I’m on it for life, begrudgingly, impatiently, and with the kind of humor only chronic illness veterans understand.
Living with sarcoidosis means managing symptoms, medications, and side effects that can turn your body into a science experiment. When prednisone turned my metabolism into a full-blown sugar-addicted monster, I went hunting for sweeteners that wouldn’t kill me faster than the disease. Here’s how I learned that everything—yes, even the stuff labeled “natural”—comes with fine print.
Prednisone and sarcoidosis have been in a long-term relationship with my body for years, and lately they’ve added a new plus-one: diabetes. So I tried a CGM for “easy” blood sugar tracking—because if I have to poke my fingers all day, I’m going to start charging admission. What I didn’t expect was a tech romance full of false reassurance, surprise pain, and numbers that looked comforting… until the lab results showed up with receipts.
Tate Basildon 