steriods & diabetes

NineteenSixty5

if steroids taken several weeks prior to HBa1c test is this likely give rise to a diagnosis of diabetes?

JaceyMarieS

Steroids can definitely raise blood sugar.

Why was the HbA1c ordered? Had you already had an abnormal fasting plasma glucose test or higher than normal finger stick? or perhaps an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test?

Technically, you need to have two results in the diabetes range to be diagnosed. This isn't to say you need 2 A1c's or 2 OGTT's or 2 FPG's. Any combination of 2 abnormal results from any of the 3 is enough.

NineteenSixty5

glucose found in urine prompted the HbA1c test which cam back around 95 mmols during a period in which steriods was being taken for several weeks. No other test done and advised to work on assumption that based on this reading that diabetes is confirmed and advised to start metformin and change lifestyle.

Still curious as to what impact steroids at 20-30 mg per day for 4 weeks and then tapering down by 5 mgs can have on blood glucose levels

jaygreen55

I assume you're talking about corticosteroids like cortisone or prednisone to treat an inflamatory condition and not anabolic steroids to enhance athletic performance.

Corticoseroids can send blood sugar levels sky high even in nondiabetics. When I herniated a disc in my back my sports medicine specialist wanted to put me on a course of prednisone to knock out the inflammation but my endocrinologist advised me not to, warning that I could see sugar levels in the 400s even with increased insulin dosages.

The good news is that your sugar levels should go back down once you come off the medication

NineteenSixty5

Yes the steroid in question was prednisone. Its interesting to learn that you endo warned you of impact what kind of dosage were they recommending to make projections of 400s or 20s mmol.

But is it likely that the elevated figures could mask diabetes assuming other risk factors such as weight age etc were present. This appears to be the assumption being made to support diagnosis of diabetes - although only 1 hba1c test been done.