Professional Development Session

Steroids and Diabetes: A Tertiary Hospital Perspective

Steroid therapy (Glucocorticoids)  is used extensively to treat a variety of conditions, for example, Oncology, Post-transplant, Haematology, Neurosurgery, Rheumatology and Respiratory to name a few. Steroid therapy has several side effects most commonly being hyperglycaemia.  The use of steroids in people with pre-existing  Diabetes commonly results in worsening glucose control. Steroids not only exacerbate hyperglycaemia in people with known diabetes it can also cause Diabetes in people without documented pre-existing Diabetes. Prevalence of Steroid use in the tertiary setting is estimated at 10%. Steroid-induced hyperglycaemia can lead to serious acute complications such as Hyperosmolar Hyperglycaemic State (HHS) and Diabetes Ketoacidosis (DKA)

This Presentation by Gloria Danies will explain how we manage patients at SCGH and Case Studies for discussion.