A nurse would question a prescription for steroids in a patient with which condition?

A nurse would question a prescription for steroids in a patient with which condition?

• A. Asthma
• B. Spinal cord injury
• C. Diabetes mellitus
• D. Rheumatoid arthritis

Answer: (C)

Steroids can raise blood glucose and worsen glycemic control. These medications promote glucose production in the liver, reduce glucose uptake by muscles and fat, and oppose insulin’s effects. In someone with diabetes mellitus, adding systemic steroids can cause significant hyperglycemia and destabilize diabetes management, often requiring adjustments to insulin or other glucose-lowering therapies and closer glucose monitoring. That’s why a nurse would question a steroid prescription for a patient with diabetes. In other conditions like asthma or rheumatoid arthritis, steroids are commonly used and the potential impact on blood sugar is a consideration, but the strongest concern here is the impact on diabetes control.

Steroids can raise blood glucose and worsen glycemic control. These medications promote glucose production in the liver, reduce glucose uptake by muscles and fat, and oppose insulin’s effects. In someone with diabetes mellitus, adding systemic steroids can cause significant hyperglycemia and destabilize diabetes management, often requiring adjustments to insulin or other glucose-lowering therapies and closer glucose monitoring. That’s why a nurse would question a steroid prescription for a patient with diabetes. In other conditions like asthma or rheumatoid arthritis, steroids are commonly used and the potential impact on blood sugar is a consideration, but the strongest concern here is the impact on diabetes control.