[Sarcoidosis and diabetes: therapeutic aspects]

A 45-year-old female patient with diabetes was on corticosteroid therapy for a year due to pulmonary sarcoidosis. During the last six years she was treated with oral antidiabetic drugs, but during the last couple of months, she required insulin therapy due to impaired glycoregulation. After corticosteroid therapy was discontinued, glycoregulation improved and insulin therapy was discontinued as well.

a 32-year-old male patient was on prednisolone therapy due to pulmonary and extrapulmonary sarcoidosis. A few weeks later diabetes mellitus (de novo) was established. During the treatment of sarcoidosis with corticosteroids, short-term insulin therapy was due to impaired glycoregulation. Insulin therapy has improved the glycoregulation.

There is no certain evidence about the incidence of diabetes mellitus under the influence of corticosteroids, due to increase of hepatic glucose production, insulin resistance and exhaustion of pancreatic beta-cells because of stimulated endogenous secretion. During treatment of sarcoidosis, corticosteroid therapy may cause deterioration of glycoregulation and occurrence of clinically manifested diabetes mellitus in patients with impaired glycose tolerance or predisposition to diabetes.

Diabetic patients with sarcoidosis who need corticosteroid therapy, should control glycoregulation Patients with sorcoidosis, treated with corticosteroid therapy need regular control in order to diagnose early diabetes.