Prednisone is known to raise blood sugar levels, and, alas, the effect
doesn't always go away when the pred is stopped. The numbers you
reported certainly suggest T2 diabetes, but you should call your doctor
and discuss the matter with him or her.

See:

'Adult Onset Diabetes Mellitus in Hepatitis C Virus Infection'

http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hcsp/articles/Azocar-1.html

  You're right,  you're not diabetic until a Doctor makes a formal
diagnosis.   That means you can buy life insurance now,  but may not be able
to in a while.

Some of the criteria a doctor should use for the diagnosis include:

 1.   Two sugars above 200 for any reason at any time,  or

 2.    Fasting blood sugars above 126.

e.g.

Diabetes Care
Volume 23 Supplement 1
American Diabetes Association:
Clinical Practice Recommendations 2000

"DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA FOR DIABETES MELLITUS
The new criteria
The diagnostic criteria for diabetes mellitus have been modified from those
previously recommended by the NDDG (1) or WHO (2). The revised criteria for
the diagnosis of diabetes are shown in Table 3. Three ways to diagnose
diabetes are possible, and each must be confirmed, on a subsequent day, by
any one of the three methods given in Table 3. For example, one instance of
symptoms with casual plasma glucose >200 mg/dl (11.1 mmol/l), confirmed on a
subsequent day by 1) FPG >126 mg/dl (7.0 mmol/l), 2) an OGTT with the 2-h
postload value >200 mg/dl (11.1 mmol/l), or 3) symptoms with a casual plasma
glucose >200 mg/dl (11.1 mmol/l), warrants the diagnosis of diabetes.. . ."

Sorry,  but you look to be a full member of our Club  (the Club nobody wants
to join)

Diabetes is a progressive disease.   Your symptoms suggest that you are in
"The Standard Type 2 Diabetes Progression".      Odds are,  with symptoms
such as you exhibit,  that you will lose more and more control over your
sugars as the disease progresses.

The standard attack on adult-onset diabetes is a lifestyle change.   The
weapons:

  1.  Lose fat lb,  especially abdominal fat
  2.  Gain muscle lb
  3.  Exercise every day.   The more vigorously the better,  but every day
is important
  4.  Reduce your carb intake;  aim for slowly-digesting carb;  spread your
daily carb over several small meals.

If you want to read about "The Progression",  try:

"The Progression and Natural History of Type 2 Diabetes"

A very good speech to doctors by an Endo, given at the 2001 ADA convention,
presented at the URL shown below.

http://www.medscape.com/viewprogram/145

When you get to the site, select  “The Progression and Natural History of
Type 2 Diabetes” in the table of contents.   Note the section on
Macrovascular (damage leading to premature heart attack) complications on
Slide 6 which starts an estimated 5 years before any symptoms, much less any
statistical diagnosis.   Note the extrapolation in Slide 9  which indicates
that eye damage starts 6.5 years before diagnosis.  Note the extrapolation
on Slide 10  which indicates that damage to beta cells from high Insulin
Resistance starts 10 years before diagnosis.

(Note:  you have to register with Medscape but that's a good idea for any
diabetic.    They don't spam or sell your info and you can make up phony
info anyway)

If you want to read a detailed approach to lifestyle changes,  try
Jennifer's advice to the newly diagnosed at

http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/NewlyDiagnosed.htm

Three cheers for the meter,  et al.    Most folks end up being ambushed by
the disease.   A couple of years of hidden high blood sugars can do serious
damage to your eyes,  kidneys,  arteries and nerves.    You have a fighting
change to avoid most of that.

In any case,  keep coming back.   Diabetes is one of the odd diseases in
which the patient does all the work and most of the management.  The docs
mostly sit on the sidelines,  cheering us on and writing the occasional
prescription.    The more you learn about this disease and the faster you
learn it,  the better your chances for a long and pain-free life.
Conversely,  ignore the disease and the better your chances for a shortened,
painful life.

One addenda:   I don't understand the relationship between hepatitis and
adult-onset Diabetes.    My readings suggest that you may be a candidate for
insulin injection at some point in time far sooner than typically expected
by the majority of adult-onset diabetics.    (Or I may be "all wet")

Don't shy away from the suggestion of insulin;  it is not only a lifesaver;
it makes your life much easier and more pleasant.  When I first realized
that I would need insulin injections,  I almost threw up.    By the second
day,   they were nothing special.

Reading the diabetes newsgroups   (alt.support.diabetes,
misc.health.diabetes) every night has produced substantial improvements in
my health,  my quality of life,  and,  I'm sure,  my life expectancy.    It
can do the same for you.

Regards
 Old Al