Glucocorticoid (or steroid) therapy, prescribed to around half of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, is a known risk factor for developing diabetes. A study from The University of Manchester has found how the risk of diabetes increases in relation to the dosage, duration and timing of steroids.
In a paper published in the journal Arthritis and Rheumatology, the researchers looked at the records of more than 20,000 patients with rheumatoid arthritis in the UK and compared rates of new-onset diabetes in those who were prescribed glucocorticoids to those who didn't receive glucocorticoids.
