*STEROID INDUCED DIABETES* How do steroids like prednisone, dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, and other steroids affect diabetes? Taking prednisone, dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, and other steroids can make the liver resistant to insulin, raising blood sugar levels and potentially leading to steroid-induced diabetes. Steroids may also worsen existing diabetes symptoms. Prednisone, dexamethasone , hydrocortisone, etc are steroids that work similarly to cortisol, a hormone that the adrenal glands usually produce in response to stress. People use steroids to treat a wide range of conditions, including autoimmune disorders, allergies, and inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis. They work by reducing immune activity and inflammation, helping prevent tissue damage. However, steroids can also affect how the body reacts to insulin, another hormone that controls the sugar levels in the blood. As a result, people with or at risk of diabetes need to speak with a doctor before taking steroids. *Steroids and blood sugar levels* Prednisone and other steroids can cause a sudden increase in blood sugar (glucose) by making the liver resistant to insulin. The pancreas produces insulin to manage blood sugar levels. Diabetes can result from a fault in the body’s reaction to insulin or an issue with insulin production in the pancreas. When blood sugar levels are high, the pancreas secretes insulin, which travels to the liver. The arrival of insulin in the liver triggers a drop in the amount of sugar this organ typically releases to fuel the cells. Instead, sugar enters the cells straight from the bloodstream, which is a process that reduces overall blood sugar concentration. Steroids can make the liver less sensitive to insulin because they cause it to carry on releasing sugar, even if the pancreas is also releasing insulin. This continued release of sugar triggers the pancreas to stop producing the hormone. If this process continues, it causes insulin resistance. The cells no longer respond to insulin, regardless of whether the body produces it or a person injects it to control diabetes. Doctors refer to this condition as steroid-induced diabetes. *Steroid-induced diabetes* In steroid-induced diabetes, the cells fail to react appropriately to insulin. Diabetes is a condition that causes blood sugar levels to be consistently high. There are two main types of diabetes: Type 1 diabetes: In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas cannot produce any insulin. Type 2 diabetes: In type 2 diabetes, either the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin or the cells do not react to the insulin circulating in the body. Steroid-induced diabetes should resolve soon after the conclusion of steroid treatment. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are lifelong conditions requiring ongoing management. Symptoms of steroid-induced diabetes The symptoms of steroid-induced diabetes are the same as those of type 1 and type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes, which affects some people during pregnancy. Symptoms may include: dry mouth thirst feeling tired unintentional weight loss frequent urination blurred vision nausea and vomiting dry, itchy skin tingling or loss of feeling in the hands or feet Some people can experience high blood sugar levels without showing any symptoms. For this reason, individuals need to regularly monitor their blood sugar levels after starting a course of steroids.