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Steroid-Induced Diabetes: Causes, Risks, and What You Can Do

When you take steroid-induced diabetes, a form of high blood sugar triggered by corticosteroid medications. It’s not the same as type 1 or type 2 diabetes, but it behaves like it—your body can’t handle glucose the way it should. This isn’t rare. People on long-term prednisone, dexamethasone, or other corticosteroids, anti-inflammatory drugs used for asthma, arthritis, autoimmune diseases, and more often see their blood sugar climb. It’s not a side effect you can ignore—it’s a metabolic shift that needs attention.

Why does this happen? corticosteroids, hormone-like drugs that mimic cortisol tell your liver to pump out more glucose. At the same time, they make your muscles and fat cells less responsive to insulin—the hormone that moves sugar out of your blood. That’s insulin resistance, a core mechanism in type 2 diabetes and the main driver of steroid-induced high blood sugar. You’re not eating more sugar, but your body is acting like you are. And if you’re already at risk—overweight, older, or with a family history—this can push you over the edge.

It’s not just about numbers on a glucose meter. Steroid-induced diabetes increases your risk for infections, slow healing, nerve damage, and even heart problems. But here’s the good part: it’s often reversible. Once you stop or lower the steroid dose, blood sugar can return to normal. The trick is catching it early. Regular monitoring, especially if you’re on steroids for more than a few weeks, makes all the difference. Diet and movement help too—cutting back on refined carbs and walking after meals can keep spikes in check. Some people need metformin or insulin temporarily, but many avoid meds entirely with smart lifestyle tweaks.

What you’ll find in the posts below are real, practical stories and science-backed advice from people who’ve dealt with this. From how to track your glucose without panic, to what foods help or hurt, to how doctors decide when to prescribe insulin alongside steroids—you’ll see the full picture. There’s no fluff. Just what works, what doesn’t, and what you need to know to protect your health while taking these powerful drugs.

Corticosteroids and Diabetes: How Steroids Cause High Blood Sugar and How to Manage It

Corticosteroids and Diabetes: How Steroids Cause High Blood Sugar and How to Manage It

Corticosteroids like prednisone can trigger sudden high blood sugar-even in people without diabetes. Learn how steroids cause insulin resistance, who’s at risk, and how to manage it safely.

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