Risk Factors of Glucocorticoid-Induced Diabetes Mellitus in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of glucocorticoid-induced Diabetes mellitus (GIDM) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) under glucocorticoid therapy. Patients with SLE who had received high-dose glucocorticoid therapy (prednisolone≥1 mg/kg/day) at Rasoul Akram and Firoozgar hospitals were recruited during 2006-2011. A total of 81 patients with SLE were evaluated. 21 patients (25.9%) of them developed GIDM after high-dose glucocorticoid therapy. Univariate analysis of data showed that old age, family history of diabetes mellitus (DM) and use of Mycophenolate mofetil were factors that would increase the likelihood of GIDM. In summary, GIDM was developed among 25.9% of patients with SLE after high-dose glucocorticoid therapy. Old age, family history of DM and use of Mycophenolate mofetil were determined to be factors responsible for increasing the risk of developing GIDM.