
February 21, 2004
Diagnosis and Symptoms
Question from Camden, De Kent:
Can a child who tested positive for mononucleosis and treated with a steroid, Pedipred, develop type 1 diabetes from the dosage or the steroid itself? Can a steroid trigger something in the human body to bring on diabetes or a high blood sugar?
Answer:
Yes. Any steroid treatments can interfere with insulin action and, if one is genetically prone to develop diabetes, then, during or soon after the steroid treatment, diabetes may show up. If the antibody tests, such as islet cell or GAD antibody are positive, then the steroids merely precipitated the diabetes, most likely. Mononucleosis, like any other illness, can also act as a precipitant in one susceptible to developing diabetes as well.
SB