People use anabolic steroids for various reasons, such as medical purposes and as a performance-enhancing drug. When it comes to medical purposes, steroids are used to treat asthma, anaemia, breast cancers, joint pain, and muscle wasting diseases, surgery, and other diseases.
Bodybuilders and athletes use anabolic steroids to improve their physical appearance and increase their body strength and overall performance.
As we already know, anabolic steroids side effects with them when you take high doses and use them for the long term. Here we will discuss one of them: Anabolic steroids and diabetes. A research study (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4112077/) has proven that steroids induced diabetes. So, this article will describe anabolic steroids’ effects on your glucose level.
Table of Contents
What Are Anabolic Steroids?
Anabolic steroids are synthetic variations of a naturally occurring hormone which is called testosterone. Testosterone is the main male sex hormone that is responsible for different growth and development in the male body.
Women do produce a very small amount of testosterone level. Anabolic steroids are also referred to as steroids or anabolic-androgenic steroids. The term ‘anabolic’ refers to muscle tissue building, and the term ‘androgenic’ refers to changes in male characteristics such as deep voice, facial and body hair growth, and other sexual organs.
Anabolic steroids come in two different forms:
- Oral anabolic steroids (pills, capsule, and tablets)
- Injectable anabolic steroids (injections)
Both of them are used for various purposes. You can find Anabolic steroids for sale from the top resellers. Many people believe that all the oral steroids are liver toxic because it directly goes into your body, but it is not true many injectable steroids are also liver toxic.
When you are using liver toxic steroids, you have to use Samarin or SamaGen. This liver protection saves you from various liver diseases and liver damage.
What Are the Role Of Steroids?
Steroids won’t cure you 100%, but they are used to reduce inflammation and pain that you are suffering from various diseases. Steroids are used to treat various illnesses as mentioned below:
- Chronic disease
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Lupus
- Asthma
- Ulcerative colitis
- Breast cancer
Steroids, whether it is about corticosteroids or anabolic steroids, both of them increase your blood glucose level. However, all anabolic steroids won’t cause these effects. When it comes to corticosteroids, they mimic the action of cortisol.
This hormone is produced by the kidney and is responsible for bringing our body’s stress response to high blood pressure. It also increases blood glucose levels.
The use of corticosteroids increases insulin resistance; thus, it allows to raise blood glucose levels and remains higher. Many anabolic steroids usage may increase your blood glucose level.
Can I use Steroids If I Already Have Diabetes?
As we already know, synthetic steroids elevate glucose levels (hyperglycemia), so this can be challenging for people with diabetes. The best way to counteract hyperglycemia that is caused by steroids is Insulin.
When you take steroids pills at home, you need to ask your provider for guidance on the dose to take your current insulin. Some steroids, such as prednisone, can raise your glucose level during the day. This will be noticeable in the morning.
When you take the prednisone pill, your glucose level might be the same, but later on, in the day, it will get higher. This is because steroids increase insulin resistance that causes your body’s insulin or the insulin which you injects in your body that does not work well. Many people think that blood sugar levels rise because of what they eat, but the actual reason is steroids.
Why Does Blood Sugar Rise By Using Steroids?
A research study (https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/insulin-resistance.html) has found that the use of steroids spikes your glucose levels by making your liver more resistant to insulin.
For example, insulin resistance, in which your body responds less effectively to insulin which leads to higher blood sugar. When steroids are present in your body, insulin doesn’t normally work as it does.
Steroids cause higher blood glucose levels that then recovers to normal before the next dose. These high blood glucose levels vary on the person and the steroids’ type, dosage, and frequency. The most common finding is blood glucose levels are not consistent throughout the day.
What Are The Tips For Diabetes Management While On Steroids?
Here are the most common tips according to Medical News Today Report (https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/317015#taking-steroids-with-diabetes):
- Keep tracking your urine or blood ketones to make sure your blood glucose (BG) levels are not too high.
- Always check your BG level. Experts recommend checking it four or more times per day.
- Ask your doctor to increase the insulin dosage or D-medication based on your BG level and other health considerations.
- Consult your doctor if your BG level rises too high while taking steroids.
- Always carry glucose tablets, candy, or juice with you even if your blood sugar level drops suddenly.
- When a person reduces steroids dosage, they should also reduce the insulin equivalent dosage or oral medication until it returns to the original dosage. Don’t stop steroids usage instantly, as it may cause various illnesses.
- You have to wait for at least 4 to 6 hours to adjust your insulin doses.
- You can use the continuous glucose monitor (CGM) tool to keep track of your glucose levels.
Do Steroids Induce Permanent Diabetes?
When you stop using steroids, your high blood glucose level may subside gradually. However, some people may also develop type 2 diabetes which will need to be managed for your entire life. Note that type 2 diabetes is more likely to develop when you use steroids for the long term, especially when you use them longer than 3 months.
Conclusion
If you already have diabetes and you will use steroids that will spike your blood sugar level. Make sure to keep track every day while using steroids. Above, we have mentioned some tips that help you keep away from any dangerous effects.
You always need to consult your doctor before taking steroids. They will guide the best dosage to get effective results with minimum side effects. You can also take advice from professional experts (https://wikistero.com/contact-us/) anytime.
