Glucocorticoid Diabetes: How Steroids Cause High Blood Sugar and What to Do

When you take glucocorticoid, a type of steroid medication used to reduce inflammation. Also known as corticosteroids, it is commonly prescribed for asthma, arthritis, and autoimmune conditions. But for many people, these drugs don’t just calm inflammation—they also raise blood sugar to dangerous levels. This isn’t just a side effect. It’s a real condition called glucocorticoid diabetes, and it affects up to 30% of people on long-term steroid therapy.

Glucocorticoid diabetes isn’t the same as type 1 or type 2 diabetes, but it shares the same symptoms: frequent urination, extreme thirst, fatigue, and blurry vision. The difference? It’s caused by how steroids mess with your body’s insulin system. They make your liver pump out more glucose, block insulin from working in your muscles, and even reduce insulin production in the pancreas. The result? Your blood sugar climbs—even if you eat normally. People with prediabetes or a family history of diabetes are at highest risk, but even healthy adults can develop it after just a few weeks of high-dose steroids.

This isn’t just a temporary glitch. If left unchecked, steroid-induced high blood sugar can lead to nerve damage, kidney stress, and even diabetic ketoacidosis. That’s why monitoring isn’t optional—it’s essential. Many patients don’t realize their symptoms are tied to their medication. They blame stress, poor sleep, or aging. But the link is clear: when steroids go up, blood sugar goes up. And when steroids are lowered or stopped, blood sugar often improves. That’s why doctors now recommend checking fasting glucose before starting long-term steroid treatment, and again after two weeks. It’s not just about the drug—it’s about your body’s reaction to it.

You’ll find posts here that dig into how diabetes medications like sitagliptin and SGLT2 inhibitors are used to manage this condition, how insulin dosing changes under steroid therapy, and why some patients need to adjust their diet or activity levels to stay stable. You’ll also see real advice on avoiding dangerous lows when steroids are tapered, and how to spot hidden risks when mixing steroids with other drugs. This isn’t theoretical. These are the exact issues patients and caregivers face every day. What you’ll read here isn’t just information—it’s what works when your body’s balance is thrown off by medicine you can’t always stop taking.