Glucocorticoids affect glucose metabolism and immune function. Which best describes their effect?

• A. They have no effect on glucose metabolism
• B. They increase hepatic glucose production and insulin resistance, with immunosuppression
• C. They decrease gluconeogenesis and boost immune responses
• D. They only affect immune function but not glucose

Answer: (B)

Glucocorticoids push the body to have more glucose available while dampening the immune response. They stimulate hepatic gluconeogenesis, increase glucose production by the liver, and promote insulin resistance in tissues like muscle and fat. At the same time, they suppress immune function by reducing inflammatory mediators and immune cell activity. So the description that best fits is that they increase hepatic glucose production and insulin resistance, with immunosuppression. The other options miss one or both of these critical effects: they do not leave glucose unchanged, they do not decrease gluconeogenesis, and they do not boost immune responses.