Taking medications such as corticosteroids can affect your body in a variety of ways. One issue that sometimes occurs with corticosteroid therapy is the development of diabetes, which can persist even after the steroid treatment is stopped. As a result, patients may need medications to help control their blood glucose levels after taking steroids.
What Are Corticosteroids?
Medically speaking, "steroid" therapy typically consists of a treatment regimen of corticosteroids. Corticosteroids are synthetic compounds that are similar to the hormone cortisol, which is made by your adrenal glands. Cortisol has a variety of different functions in your body, and corticosteroids can be used if your body is unable to produce enough cortisol. Corticosteroids also reduce inflammation and can be used to treat conditions such as asthma, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis that are caused by excessive inflammation.
Corticosteroids and Diabetes
One of the most prominent side effects from the long-term use of corticosteroids is elevated blood glucose levels, also known as diabetes. High doses of corticosteroids make your body respond less effectively to the pancreatic hormone insulin. This insulin resistance can make it hard for your body to lower blood glucose levels after your blood glucose rises. High blood sugar levels can damage your retinas, kidneys, blood vessels and nerves. Corticosteroids can also cause weight gain, which can also contribute to diabetes after taking corticosteroids.
Prevention
If you are concerned about developing diabetes after taking corticosteroids, you can talk to your doctor to try to find a treatment regiment that reduces the risk of these side effects. For example, taking shorter-acting corticosteroids or taking corticosteroids intermittently can reduce your risk of developing diabetes after corticosteroid use. Using inhaled corticosteroids instead of oral corticosteroids also reduces your risk of developing diabetes, according to a 2002 article in the "Journal of General Internal Medicine."
Treatment
In most cases, your insulin resistance will subside after you stop taking corticosteroids, which will also help to reduce your blood glucose levels. Weight gain while on corticosteroids can also cause diabetes, so talk to your doctor about a diet and exercise regimen to help you lose the added weight to normalize your blood glucose levels. In severe cases, medications that cause your body to make more insulin or to be more sensitive to insulin can be used to help control your blood glucose levels.
