Novel approaches to manage glucocorticoid-induced diabetes in hospital inpatients

High dose steroids can raise blood glucose levels. These can cause infections, prolong hospital stay and even rarely result in death. Little is known about the best way to manage patients with ‘steroid diabetes’. We will study various approaches to manage high glucose levels in patients treated with steroids in hospital. We will use minimally invasive continuous glucose monitoring, a contemporary technology, to compare and evaluate in detail two different treatment schedules. One intervention will combine longer acting and mealtime insulin (conventional regimen), and the other will combine liraglutide, a newer non-insulin injection, together with longer acting insulin. The results of this study will provide important objective pilot data on management of patients with ‘steroid diabetes’ in hospital.