Steroid diabetes; what are the symptoms? Find out if anabolic steroids can cause diabetes and how to take courses to prevent this from happening. In medicine, there is something called steroid diabetes. It can also be extra insulin dependent. Most often, the disease develops against a disorder of the adrenal cortex and is associated with a significant increase in the concentration of corticosteroids. However, the cause of the development of the disease can be the long-term use of hormonal drugs or their use in large doses. Scientists note one feature of this disease – it progresses moderately, and the symptoms are not clearly expressed.
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Why can steroid diabetes develop?
Researchers often note hypothalamic-pituitary syndrome and Itsenko-Cushing’s disease as reasons for developing this disease. Suppose there is a disruption in the functioning of the pituitary gland with the hypothalamus. In that case, there will be an imbalance of hormones in the body. It, in turn, leads to a decrease in the indicator of the resistance of cellular structures to insulin. The most common disease, in this case, is Itsenko-Cushing syndrome.
It is characterized by the high production of corticosteroids in the adrenal cortex. To date, the exact mechanisms of development of this disease have not been established. Scientists note the connection between women’s pregnancy and the development of this disease. It’s no secret that during pregnancy, the female hormonal system works differently, and hormonal imbalances are pretty possible.
It should note that the characteristic of Itsenko-Cushing’s syndrome is the absence of disturbances in the work of the pancreas, which produces insulin. It is the main difference between steroid diabetes and classic disease. We have already said that drugs, especially corticosteroids, can cause this phenomenon. They increase the rate of glucose synthesis in the liver, which can lead to hypoglycemia.
Steroid diabetes is common in people with toxic goiter. In this case, the tissues do not absorb glucose as effectively as needed. If the patient’s thyroid dysfunction is combined with the development of diabetes, then steroid-induced insulin-dependent diabetes develops. Corticosteroids hurt pancreatic function and suppress insulin action. Therefore, the body is forced to work to the limit. The more prolonged corticosteroids are used, the greater the risk of pancreatic insufficiency.
How do steroids affect the development of diabetes – is there a connection?
Today, almost all professional athletes use active anabolic steroids. Without these drugs, it isn’t easy to count on good results. According to many scientists, using AAS automatically puts a person at risk. Let’s find out if there is a connection between steroids and diabetes. Doctors are sure that it exists, and the risk of developing insulin-dependent diabetes is relatively high.
Although anabolic steroids are most often used in sports, rather than corticosteroids, they can not avoid effects on the adrenal cortex. It leads to a crease in the index of tissue resistance to insulin.
We can say that we can trace the relationship between steroids and diabetes in two directions:
- The first way of developing the disease – is a synthetic hormone that disrupts the functioning of the pancreas, and the amount of insulin produced by the body decreases. Therefore, the development of type 1 diabetes is possible.
- Another way of developing the disease – is increasing tissue resistance to insulin. Against this background, insulin-dependent diabetes can develop.
How do hormonal drugs affect the development of diabetes?
Some hormonal contraceptives used by women can cause type 2 diabetes. Synthetic hormones can disrupt the functioning of the endocrine system. Sometimes prednisone, anaprilin, etc., push the disease’s development. In truth, a violation of tissue sensitivity to insulin in such a situation is rare. Metabolic disorders caused by these drugs are usually not noticeable.
But the risk of developing steroid diabetes when using a thiazide diuretic is slightly higher. Remember that the drugs in this group include hypothiazide, navidrex, dichlothiazide, and others. Corticosteroids are often used to treat lupus, pemphigus, eczema, rheumatoid arthritis, and asthma. We have already said that these drugs may well cause severe metabolic disturbances and cause the development of diabetes. If the beta cells of the pancreas are damaged simultaneously, the disease will take on an insulin-dependent form.
Symptoms of steroid diabetes
The symptoms of this disease have signs of diabetes, both the first and the second type. We have already said that hormonal drugs can cause damage to the beta cells of the pancreas, and the organ will not be able to cope with the task assigned to it. At some point, insulin production will decrease.
At the same time, the body’s index of tissue resistance to the hormone can increase. When the pancreas stops secreting insulin, insulin-dependent diabetes begins to develop.
Among the main symptoms of the disease, can distinguish three :
- Constant thirst.
- A significant drop in performance.
- Frequent and profuse urination.
The peculiarity of this diabetes is that the symptoms mentioned above are not so noticeable. That is why the man does not even guess it. That disease is already developing in the body, and there is no rush to visit a doctor. Weight loss is rare in these patients. Even laboratory tests do not always give accurate results, as blood glucose levels may be in the normal range.
How is steroid diabetes treated?
Steroid diabetes is treated in the same way as a classic insulin-dependent disease. When prescribing treatment, it is necessary to consider all the conditions the patient has. It Indicates that the doctor can only specify the therapy.
Among the measures for the treatment of steroid diabetes, we note:
- Insulin injections to normalize the pancreas.
- Be sure to use a low-carb nutrition program.
- Hypoglycemic drugs are used.
- In rare cases, an operation is necessary to remove excess tissue from the adrenal cortex, slowing down corticosteroid production.
- Discontinue all medications that may cause metabolic disturbances. However, this exercise is not always possible, for example, with asthma. In such cases, constant monitoring of the condition of the pancreas is necessary.
It should note that insulin injections are prescribed only after hypoglycemic drugs cannot have the expected effect. The patient should remember that insulin administration is only one way to normalize blood sugar levels. The main task of steroid diabetes treatment is to improve and delay potential complications. Diabetes, in this regard, is a severe disease and can disrupt the functioning of almost any system in the human body. Adrenocortical surgery is the most extreme procedure as it can cause severe damage to human health.
Why is a low-carb diet important in diabetes?
For all types of diabetes, it is worth switching to a low-carb diet to control blood sugar. The daily dose of this nutrient should not exceed 30 grams. It is also essential to consider the number of protein molecules and vegetable fats in the diet.
Here are the main benefits of a low-carb diabetes nutrition plan:
- The body’s need for insulin and drugs that reduce sugar concentration in the blood is reduced.
- Even after a meal, keeping glucose within normal limits is easier.
- Health improves, and the symptoms of the disease are suppressed.
- The risk of complications is reduced.
- The balance of lipid-protein structures is expected.
How can you prevent the development of steroid diabetes?
One of the ways to prevent the development of this disease is the continuous use of a low-carbohydrate nutrition plan. It applies to both people with diabetes and those at risk. If you have been actively using hormonal drugs, you should consider fitness classes. Otherwise, an increase in body weight is possible, which often becomes the cause of the development of the disease.
If you constantly feel weak and your performance has decreased significantly, you should see a doctor. Insulin diabetes is rarely cured completely. It also applies to classic diabetes. You must remember. It is important not to start the disease because, in this case, it will be tough to fight against it. Note that several studies have proven the benefits of natural bodybuilding. In addition, the more active the athlete, the lower the risk of developing the disease.
Is there a genetic predisposition to diabetes?
Today they often talk about genetics and predisposition to something. You have indeed come across posts about the genetics of athletes on specialized web resources. Of course, genetic information can also be important regarding diseases. It definitely exists if we talk about the relationship between genetics and diabetes.
When discussing type 1 disease, you should contact a doctor if you have relatives who suffer from this disease. Scientists believe this disease’s genetic predisposition is essential for people of European genotype. Studies have shown that the more melanin in the skin, the lower the risk of developing diabetes.
When it comes to type 2 diabetes, a person should be tested in the following situations:
- Being overweight and even obese.
- Atherosclerosis in the presence of severe hypertension.
- For example, the presence of gynecological diseases in women is polycystic ovary syndrome.
- The company of permanent stressful situations.
- Little movement.
Age over 40 with any of the factors listed above.
