Oral treatment of glucocorticoid-induced diabetes mellitus: A systematic review

Abstract

Glucocorticoid‐induced diabetes mellitus (GIDM) is a well‐known and common metabolic side effect of glucocorticoid (GC) treatment. The risk of developing GIDM in non‐diabetic patients who receive systemic GCs, was evaluated in a metanalysis and found to be 18.6%. GIDM is potential life‐threatening, and hyperglycaemia, even mild, in hospitalized patients is associated with both increased mortality and increased morbidity. Often, insulin is the preferred treatment option. However, insulin is a high‐risk drug and to patients without previously known diabetes, initiation of insulin therapy requires training in blood glucose measurements and insulin injections.