Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrognosisCopingFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
Coping
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn about steroid-induced diabetes, risk factors, diagnosis, treatment, and more.
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Types of Diabetes
Other types of diabetes, like steroid-induced diabetes, affect certain groups, in this case, people taking steroid medications.
Steroid-Induced Diabetes Symptoms
Similar to other types of diabetes, steroid-induced diabetes has symptoms related to high blood sugar levels.
Symptoms of diabetes and high blood sugar may include:
Not everyone with diabetes has symptoms, so it’s important for people at an increased risk to get tested.Anyone taking steroid medications, especially for a long time, is at an increased risk of developing steroid-induced diabetes.
Steroids can interfere with how the body processes glucose and responds to insulin, a hormone that decreases blood sugar levels.This leads to higher blood glucose levels.
Steroid-induced diabetes can affect people not previously considered at risk of developing diabetes before taking steroids, especially those taking higher doses or who are on the medications for a longer time.
Cortisone Injections in Diabetics
Like other types of diabetes, a diagnosis of steroid-induced diabetes involves a blood test to measure blood sugar levels.
More specifically, steroid-induced diabetes testing may include:
Sometimes, multiple tests may be required to confirm a diabetes diagnosis.
For example, some people with steroid-induced diabetes may not be treated for diabetes but monitored to ensure it doesn’t get worse.Other people may stop taking the steroid medications that lead to diabetes to reverse the diagnosis.
Diabetes, including steroid-induced diabetes, is a treatable condition. Medications to lower blood sugar levels are available to manage diabetes while a person is taking steroids.After they stop taking the steroid medication that led to the diagnosis, the condition generally goes away.Additionally, there are lifestyle changes that people with steroid-induced diabetes can make to help manage it.
Like other types of diabetes, managing this condition often includes lifestyle changes such as exercising and makingdietary changes.Since people with excess weight orobesityare at an increased risk, a treatment plan usually includes weight loss.
Lifestyle changes to cope with diabetes may include:
Summary
Blood tests to check glucose levels are used to diagnose steroid-induced diabetes. The treatment for this condition may include taking medications to control blood sugar levels, stopping the steroid medication causing the problem, and making lifestyle changes, such as in nutrition and exercise.
A Word From Verywell
Suspecting, being diagnosed with, and managing steroid-induced diabetes can be challenging, especially since it involves experiencing multiple medical conditions at the same time. This condition is treatable, and help is available. If you or someone you know is facing steroid-induced diabetes or another type of diabetes, reach out to a healthcare professional for support.
Yes, steroid-induced diabetes can be reversed. The condition generally goes away once the steroid medication that leads to diabetes is discontinued. Medications to control blood sugar levels and lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise can also help.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is diabetes?Kim SY, Yoo CG, Lee CT, et al.Incidence and risk factors of steroid-induced diabetes in patients with respiratory disease.J Korean Med Sci. 2011;26(2):264-267. doi:10.3346/jkms.2011.26.2.264Hwang JL, Weiss RE.Steroid-induced diabetes: a clinical and molecular approach to understanding and treatment.Diabetes Metab Res Rev. 2014;30(2):96-102. doi:10.1002/dmrr.2486Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Type 1 diabetes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Type 2 diabetes.National Health Service.Steroid induced diabetes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes symptoms.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease.Symptoms and causes of diabetes.American Diabetes Association.Diagnosis.Fève B, Scheen AJ.When therapeutic drugs lead to diabetes.Diabetologia. 2022;65(5):751-762. doi:10.1007/s00125-022-05666-wCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes risk factors.Mount Sinai School of Medicine.Diabetes nutrition and exercise.
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is diabetes?Kim SY, Yoo CG, Lee CT, et al.Incidence and risk factors of steroid-induced diabetes in patients with respiratory disease.J Korean Med Sci. 2011;26(2):264-267. doi:10.3346/jkms.2011.26.2.264Hwang JL, Weiss RE.Steroid-induced diabetes: a clinical and molecular approach to understanding and treatment.Diabetes Metab Res Rev. 2014;30(2):96-102. doi:10.1002/dmrr.2486Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Type 1 diabetes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Type 2 diabetes.National Health Service.Steroid induced diabetes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes symptoms.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease.Symptoms and causes of diabetes.American Diabetes Association.Diagnosis.Fève B, Scheen AJ.When therapeutic drugs lead to diabetes.Diabetologia. 2022;65(5):751-762. doi:10.1007/s00125-022-05666-wCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes risk factors.Mount Sinai School of Medicine.Diabetes nutrition and exercise.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is diabetes?Kim SY, Yoo CG, Lee CT, et al.Incidence and risk factors of steroid-induced diabetes in patients with respiratory disease.J Korean Med Sci. 2011;26(2):264-267. doi:10.3346/jkms.2011.26.2.264Hwang JL, Weiss RE.Steroid-induced diabetes: a clinical and molecular approach to understanding and treatment.Diabetes Metab Res Rev. 2014;30(2):96-102. doi:10.1002/dmrr.2486Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Type 1 diabetes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Type 2 diabetes.National Health Service.Steroid induced diabetes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes symptoms.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease.Symptoms and causes of diabetes.American Diabetes Association.Diagnosis.Fève B, Scheen AJ.When therapeutic drugs lead to diabetes.Diabetologia. 2022;65(5):751-762. doi:10.1007/s00125-022-05666-wCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes risk factors.Mount Sinai School of Medicine.Diabetes nutrition and exercise.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is diabetes?
Kim SY, Yoo CG, Lee CT, et al.Incidence and risk factors of steroid-induced diabetes in patients with respiratory disease.J Korean Med Sci. 2011;26(2):264-267. doi:10.3346/jkms.2011.26.2.264
Hwang JL, Weiss RE.Steroid-induced diabetes: a clinical and molecular approach to understanding and treatment.Diabetes Metab Res Rev. 2014;30(2):96-102. doi:10.1002/dmrr.2486
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Type 1 diabetes.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Type 2 diabetes.
National Health Service.Steroid induced diabetes.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes symptoms.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease.Symptoms and causes of diabetes.
American Diabetes Association.Diagnosis.
Fève B, Scheen AJ.When therapeutic drugs lead to diabetes.Diabetologia. 2022;65(5):751-762. doi:10.1007/s00125-022-05666-w
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes risk factors.
Mount Sinai School of Medicine.Diabetes nutrition and exercise.
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