The Impact of Inhaled Corticosteroids Used for the Treatment of Asthma on the Management of Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

In this study, it is aimed to investigate the impact of inhaled corticosteroids on the management of diabetes in diabetic patients diagnosed with asthma. This is a retrospective case control study. 188 patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and 88 diabetes mellitus patients diagnosed with asthma -276 patients in total -were enrolled in the study. Patients using systemic steroids for any reason, patients diagnosed with diabetes, who do not take medication regularly, patients with diabetic ketoacidosis and patients, who had an asthma episode requiring the use of oral steroids in the past year were excluded from the study. A total of 276 patients; 88 (31.9%) male and 188 (68.1%) female were enrolled in the study with the average age being 58.9±9.4. 68.1% (188) of the patients enrolled in the study were diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and 31.9% (88) were diabetes mellitus patients diagnosed with asthma. The comparison between the group not diagnosed with asthma and the group diagnosed with asthma, blood glucose (p<0.007) levels and incidence of neuropathy (p<0.002) were significantly higher in patients diagnosed with asthma and incidence of nephropathy (p<0.024) was significantly higher in patients not diagnosed with asthma. In our study, no statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups with regard to age, haemoglobin levels and glycated haemoglobin levels. In conclusion, the use of low-medium dose inhaled corticosteroids in diabetes mellitus patients diagnosed with asthma does not have an impact on glycated haemoglobin levels but with regard to diabetes-related complications, it may cause an increase in blood glucose levels and neuropathy risk.