Cushing's syndrome, also known as hypercortisolism, is caused by an excess of the hormone cortisol in the body. Most people get Cushing's from prolonged use of oral corticosteroids, such as prednisone. Cushing's disease is a form of Cushing's syndrome that happens when the pituitary gland causes the body to produce too much cortisol. Symptoms of Cushing's include a round or puffy face, fatty deposits in the abdomen and upper back, bone pain and weak muscles. Cushing's is not a common disease, so it is sometimes not diagnosed, but once diagnosed, it can be treated.
Tests and Treatments
The first test for Cushing's establishes the amount of cortisol in your blood or urine. If you have too much cortisol, your doctor will prescribe other tests, such as an MRI of your brain or blood tests, to find out if a pituitary gland tumor or growth is the source of your high levels of cortisol.
The treatment for Cushing's syndrome caused by prolonged use of corticosteroids starts with regulating your medicine. If you have a pituitary tumor, however, the usual treatment is surgery to remove it. Very few of these tumors are cancerous, but left untreated, they can cause other problems in addition to Cushing's disease.
Other treatments for Cushing's address the symptoms, including weight gain, bone loss, high blood pressure and hyperglycemia. A good diet can help.
What to Eat With Cushing's
Because weight gain is common with Cushing's, eat a regular, well-balanced diet with just enough calories to maintain a healthy weight. This means plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian about getting adequate calcium in your diet. Calcium is important for maintaining bone density, but may be harmful if you ingest too much of it. The recommended daily intake for adults is 800 mg.
What Not To Eat With Cushing's
To help control both your weight and your cholesterol levels, limit your fat intake and use virgin olive oil, which is low in saturated fats, for cooking and in salad dressings.
Sodium, usually in the form of salt, contributes to high blood pressure, another side effect of Cushing's. Avoid prepared foods with lots of sodium and work to reduce your salt intake to no more than 2 g per day.
Some people with Cushing's also get hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar. This can be treated with insulin, but if you have this side effect, you need to follow a diabetic diet to help control your blood sugar. The American Diabetic Association recommends starting out by looking at how you apportion your foods. Fill half your plate with non-starchy vegetables. Divide the other half between high-fiber whole grains such as noodles, bread or rice, and meat or meat substitutes, such as fish, seafood, skinless chicken, lean beef or pork, tofu and eggs.
Talk to your doctor or registered dietitian about the diet that is best for you.
Other Lifestyle Tips
While Cushing's causes fatigue and muscle weakness, making exercising difficult, working out provides many benefits. Mary Lee Vance, M.D., encourages patients to exercise regularly following pituitary tumor removal surgery. Mild exercise, such as walking or swimming laps, is preferable to running or other vigorous exercise at first. According to the American Diabetic Association, exercise can also help manage blood glucose levels. Talk to a physical therapist if you need help setting up a safe, regular exercise program.
