Hyperglycemic medications

Glucocorticoids, such as prednisone or cortisone, are medications primarily used as anti-inflammatories or anti-rejection drugs. They are prescribed, for example, during an arthritis flare-up or following an organ transplant.

One of their side effects is an increase in blood glucose levels. These medications promote the production of glucose in the liver and reduce cell sensitivity to insulin. As a result, glucose accumulates in the blood and can lead to elevated blood sugar levels. The effect may vary from person to person depending on the prescribed dose of glucocorticoids, the route of administration (cream, tablets, or injection), and the duration of medication use.

If you are taking glucocorticoids, it is important to monitor your blood sugar levels more frequently than usual. This will allow you to closely track the impact of the medication on your diabetes control. It may be necessary to discuss this with your doctor in order to adjust your antidiabetic medication or insulin doses to return to normal blood sugar levels. Generally, once glucocorticoid treatment is completed, blood sugar levels return to normal after a few days.

Furthermore, it is crucial that the initiation and discontinuation of glucocorticoid therapy be supervised by a healthcare professional.