Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 25, 2025

Improving IV Insulin Administration in a Community Hospital
Published on: June 11, 2012
Assessment of the Effectiveness of a Protocol to Manage Dexamethasone-Induced Hyperglycemia Among Hospitalized
Alanood A Asiri1, Abdullah M Alguwaihes2, Anwar A Jammah2
1Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Objective:
Well-controlled glucose levels (ie, 70-180 mg/dL) have been associated with lower mortality from COVID-19. The addition of dexamethasone to COVID-19 treatment protocols has raised concerns about the potential negative consequences of dexamethasone-induced hyperglycemia.
Methods:
We developed a protocol to guide the management of dexamethasone-induced hyperglycemia in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Two of the 4 medical teams managing patients with COVID-19 at a tertiary center in Saudi Arabia used the protocol and the other 2 teams continued to manage hyperglycemia at the discretion of the treating physicians (protocol and control groups, respectively). The glycemic control and clinical outcomes in 163 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and dexamethasone-induced hyperglycemia between July 5th and September 30th, 2020, were retrospectively compared between the 2 groups.
Results:
Compared to the control group, the protocol group had higher proportions of patients with well-controlled glucose across all premeals and bedtime glucose readings throughout the hospital stay. The differences in glycemic control between the 2 groups were statistically significant for fasting glucose on days 4, 5, and the discharge day; prelunch glucose on the discharge day; predinner glucose on days 3, 5, and the discharge day; and bedtime glucose on day 1 (all P < .05). After adjusting for age, sex, nationality, body mass index, Charlson score, and diabetes status, patients in the protocol group were more likely to have well-controlled glucose levels compared with those in the control group. Moreover, the in-hospital mortality was significantly lower in the protocol group (12.93%) compared to the control group (29.93%) (P < .01).
Conclusion:
The implementation of a protocol to manage dexamethasone-induced hyperglycemia in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 resulted in more patients achieving well-controlled glucose levels and was associated with lower mortality from COVID-19.
More Related Videos
07:35Author Spotlight: Investigating the Blood Glucose Homeostasis in Murine Brain Using a Cost-Effective Hyperglycemic And Hypoglycemic Clamp Technique
Published on: January 26, 2024
07:22Glycemic Impact on Knee Osteoarthritis Symptoms on Physical, Radiographic, and Inflammatory Markers among Individuals Aged 50 and Over with Diabetes
Published on: March 7, 2025
Related Concept Videos
Hypoglycemia and Glucagon
Insulin: Dosing Regimen and Adverse Effects
The basal dose constitutes about 40%-50% of the total daily dose, with the rest as premeal insulin. The mealtime insulin dose should mirror...
Diabetes: Management and Pharmacotherapy
Insulin remains the cornerstone of treatment for most patients with type 1 and many...
Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational
SBAR II: Application of SBAR
SBAR Report from a Nurse to a Health Care Provider
S: "Hello, Dr. Smith. This is Jane, RN, from the Med Surg unit. I am calling to tell you about Ms. White in Room 210, who is experiencing increased pain and redness at her incision site. Her recent...