They more than double the risk of diabetes.
A new study reveals that the use of steroids significantly raises the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Research presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes conference in Madrid indicates that people taking steroid medications—whether orally, by injection, or through infusions—are 2.6 times more likely to develop diabetes compared to those who do not use these drugs.
Steroids, which are prescribed for various inflammatory conditions such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and cancer, can negatively impact blood sugar levels. They achieve this by decreasing insulin sensitivity and hindering the body’s ability to absorb glucose. This study aims to confirm and expand upon previous findings by using a larger dataset.
The research, conducted by Oxford University Hospitals, analyzed data from over 450,000 patients between 2013 and 2023. Initially, none of these patients had diabetes or were on steroids. During the study period, about 4% of the patients began steroid treatment. The results showed that roughly 2% of these patients developed type 2 diabetes, compared to less than 1% of those who did not use steroids.
These findings underscore the importance of monitoring blood sugar levels in patients undergoing long-term steroid therapy. Dr. Rajna Golubic, the study’s lead researcher, highlighted that the results provide a clearer understanding of the diabetes risk associated with steroids, which could help healthcare providers manage and detect new cases of diabetes more effectively.
The results presented are considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal. Nevertheless, they suggest that patients on long-term steroid treatments, particularly for chronic conditions, should be closely monitored for diabetes.
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