A study of steroid-induced diabetes mellitus in leprosy.
Steroids, while still the most powerful drugs to manage leprosy reactions, predispose some patients to other morbidities such as diabetes, glaucoma, hypertension etc. A prospective cohort study was done in Kolkata, India among leprosy patients in reaction to determine the extent of steroid induced diabetes mellitus (SID). All leprosy patients with type 1 or type 2 reactions or neuritis admitted in 2006 to the Leprosy Mission Hospital in Kolkata, who had no past or current history and whose blood sugars on fasting were <126 mg/dl or postprandial <200 mg/dl were monitored fortnightly while on steroid therapy, estimating blood glucose by a glucometer using standard strips. Of 81 patients, 19 (23.5%) manifested steroid-induced diabetes mellitus. Compared to those who didn't, there were significantly more LL/BL patients with positive BI among SID whose cumulative prednisolone dosage was nearly 9000 mg as compared to half the amount among others. Steroid induced diabetes is a serious complication among leprosy patients treated with prednisolone for reactions requiring careful monitoring for detection and appropriate clinical management.
TLM Hospital, Kolkata, India.
R
R
Papang
A S
AS
John
S
S
Abraham
P S S S
PS
Rao
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007918:Leprosy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
D001786:Blood Glucose; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011239:Prednisolone