Strong diabetes.

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Sports Medicine
• Toxicology

Background:

• Professional bodybuilding often involves the misuse of anabolic steroids and human growth hormone (hGH).
• Long-term misuse of these substances can lead to severe metabolic and organ damage.
• Recreational use of supraphysiological doses of hGH poses significant health risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a unique case of diabetes mellitus precipitated by supraphysiological human growth hormone misuse.
• To highlight the potential endocrine and metabolic complications of anabolic steroid and hGH abuse in athletes.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a 36-year-old male professional bodybuilder presenting with acute symptoms.
• Clinical examination, biochemical analysis (blood glucose, liver function tests, renal function), and urinalysis were performed.
• Treatment involved conservative management with insulin therapy and intravenous fluids.

Main Results:

• The patient presented with right upper quadrant pain, hepatomegaly, hyperglycemia (30.2 mmol/l), hepatitis, and acute renal failure.
• No evidence of ketonuria or acidosis was found.
• Hepatitis and hyperglycemia resolved with conservative treatment, including insulin administration.

Conclusions:

• This is the first reported case of overt diabetes mellitus directly caused by supraphysiological recreational human growth hormone misuse.
• The findings underscore the critical dangers of anabolic steroid and hGH abuse, potentially leading to severe metabolic disturbances like diabetes.
• Healthcare providers should be vigilant for endocrine and metabolic complications in individuals misusing performance-enhancing drugs.