Manor Preboards Module 5 Practice Test

Long-term corticosteroid use disrupts glucose metabolism, leading to hyperglycemia. They boost hepatic glucose production (gluconeogenesis) and diminish the body's ability to use insulin effectively, causing insulin resistance in muscle and fat. Over time, this combination raises blood sugar and can even unmask or trigger diabetes in susceptible individuals. While weight gain can occur from increased appetite and fluid retention, the most consistent and clinically important metabolic effect of prolonged corticosteroid therapy is elevated blood glucose.