Steroid medicines can be important treatment for inflammation and many other conditions. They are not the same as anabolic steroids used for muscle building. This guide is about prescribed corticosteroids, sometimes called steroid medicines.

Why steroid medicines are prescribed

Your body makes steroid hormones, including cortisol. Prescribed corticosteroids are made to act in a similar way and may be used to reduce inflammation or calm an overactive immune response. They can be given as tablets, injections, inhalers, creams, eye drops or other preparations. The reason for treatment, the type of medicine and the length of treatment all affect the advice you need.

Take the medicine exactly as prescribed. Do not share it with anyone else, and do not change the plan because of information online or a single blood sugar reading.

Can steroids affect blood sugar?

Yes. Corticosteroid medicines can raise blood sugar. This can make existing diabetes harder to manage and, in some people, can uncover or cause high blood sugar for the first time. The effect can change as the steroid treatment changes, so a plan that was right at the start may need reviewing later.

This does not mean a prescribed steroid should be stopped. It means the prescribing clinician and diabetes team may need to decide whether glucose checks or a temporary change to diabetes treatment is appropriate.

If you have diabetes and are prescribed a steroid

Tell the clinician who is prescribing the steroid that you have diabetes, and let your usual diabetes team know when appropriate. Ask these practical questions before you leave:

  • Should I check my blood sugar more often, and at what times?
  • What result or symptom means I should contact the clinic?
  • Who should I contact outside usual clinic hours?
  • Do I need advice again when the steroid is reduced or stopped?

If you are asked to check glucose at home, keep a short record of the reading, the time, meals, the timing of the steroid medicine and any symptoms. This gives your clinical team a clearer picture than one isolated result. Do not adjust insulin or other diabetes medicines on your own unless you already have a written plan from your clinician.

Symptoms that need prompt advice

Contact your clinical team promptly if you have symptoms of high blood sugar, such as unusual thirst, passing urine more often, blurred vision or marked tiredness. Seek urgent medical help if you are very unwell, vomiting, confused, struggling to stay awake, or have been given specific urgent-action advice by your care team.

Do not stop a steroid suddenly without advice

Some steroid treatments need to be reduced gradually. Stopping suddenly can make the condition being treated return and can also cause withdrawal problems. The safe plan depends on the medicine, how long it has been used and your individual circumstances. Speak to the clinician who prescribed it before making any change.

What about other side effects?

Side effects depend on the medicine, the way it is taken, the length of treatment and the individual. Your clinician may discuss issues such as infection risk, mood changes, indigestion, bone health, eye problems or blood pressure when they are relevant to your treatment. Read the medicine leaflet that comes with your prescription and raise new or worrying symptoms with your clinician or pharmacist.

Preparing for a review

Bring your medicine list, glucose record if you have one, and any questions about side effects or the plan for reducing treatment. If you have diabetes, the team can use this information to make decisions safely as steroid treatment changes.

Further reading

Medical information is general and cannot replace advice from the clinician who knows your medical history and current treatment.