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Side Effects of Corticosteroid Therapy in Diabetic Patients

Corticosteroids are a type of prescription medication used to relieve inflammation. Despite its effectiveness, corticosteroids have the potential to cause side effects in diabetic patients.

  1. Background

    • Diabetes is a disease marked by elevated blood sugar levels. Because corticosteroids cause elevations in blood sugar, they pose serious risks to diabetes.

    Side Effects

    • Symptoms of high blood sugar in diabetics caused by corticosteroids include increased thirst, excessive urination, sweating, extreme hunger, weight loss and fatigue.

    Risks

    • Over time, elevated blood sugar levels have the potential to cause cardiovascular disease, nerve or kidney damage, blindness, gum infections and osteoporosis.

    Prevention

    • If you are diabetic and have to take corticosteroids, you should be sure to monitor your blood sugar levels regularly. Discuss with your doctor how you should adjust your insulin or oral diabetes medications to keep your sugars within a safe range.

    Considerations

    • Although corticosteroids are usually safe to take during pregnancy, high blood sugar levels in diabetic patients cause a number of risks to unborn babies, including excess growth, hypoglycemia, jaundice and poorly developed lungs. Rarely, high blood sugars during pregnancy result in fetal death.

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