Why do steroids increase bloodsugar to the point that diabetics need to take1.5-3x more insulin while on them? Why does that happen?
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Because steroids cause the liver to release stored up sugar, which increases your blood sugar. Your body is “trained” to see a release of this sugar from the liver as a sign of low blood sugar, and therefore the pancreas should stop producing insulin (because insulin makes cells store sugar).
The problem is that the steroids are doing this continuously, even when you’re eating, so your blood sugar can spike dangerously, and you’re already not producing enough insulin. If you’re a Type 1 diabetic who doesn’t produce insulin, you need the extra to counteract the released sugar in addition to what you ate.
Steroids have glucocorticoid properties that cause blood sugars to rise (via glycogen stores breaking down). These steroids are typically released during periods of stress (eg cortisol) when your body believes it needs energy in the blood stream for muscles and the brain. Taking these in large doses mimics this stress response and causes sugars to rise and more insulin to handle it all
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