Possible Interaction: Glucose and Steroids

“Background: Parenterally administered steroids have been shown to affect the metabolism of glucose and to cause abnormal blood glucose levels in diabetic patients.”

“S-DM was defined as a fasting glucose concentration exceeding 126 mg/dL or a random glucose concentration exceeding 200 mg/dL at least twice after beginning steroid treatment.”

“However, methodological concerns, the high rate … infusion of large doses of parenteral glucose … steroids presently preclude considering these results as recommendations in other intensive care units, but rather argue for the need … the IIT approach by multi-centre studies to confirm the efficacy and safety of this therapeutic modality.”

“Infants born from mothers who had been receiving steroids antenatally had higher glucose production rates (2.3 ± 1.1 mg·kg−1·min−1) compared with infants from mothers who had not (1.1 ± 0.8 mg · kg−1 · min−1, p = 0.036).”

“ Steroids may affect uptake of substrates, e.g., glucose or amino acids, which in turn affects growth.”

“The insulin response to the glucose pulse also was significantly lower during steroid treatment.”

“It was found that the use of the steroid was associated with significant elevations of both glucose and insulin.”

“The action of steroid on the cells resulted in a slight decrease in glucose uptake and a proportionally greater decrease in glucose stored.”

“When added to the incubation medium, all four steroids decreased basal glucose oxidation.”

“It is suggested that conjugation to glucose may facilitate the transport of the steroid into the liver cell, or may protect it from metabolism.”