The effect of intra-articular corticosteroid injections on glycated hemoglobin was revealed

Intra-articular corticosteroid injections may cause a greater than expected increase in glycated hemoglobin levels in diabetic patients. However, the risk of severe hyperglycemia following the procedure is minimal.

Researchers from the Mayo Clinic evaluated the effect of intra-articular corticosteroid injections on glycated hemoglobin levels in people with diabetes. The results of the study are published Clinical Diabetes.

Experts found that 15.7% of patients who received intra-articular corticosteroid injections had higher than expected glycated hemoglobin levels, by an average of 1.2%. The only factor contributing to higher glycated hemoglobin levels than expected was a baseline marker value above 8%. Severe hyperglycemia after injection was diagnosed in one patient.

At the same time, the other participants without an increase in the index above the expected values showed a decrease in the level of glycated hemoglobin after injection by an average of 0.2%.

The study included 1,169 adult patients with diabetes who received intra-articular corticosteroid injections into large joints for arthritis between 2012 and 2018. The mean age of the participants was 66.1 years. They analyzed mean glycated hemoglobin levels during the 18 months before and after the injection.

The authors noted: although the risk of severe hyperglycemia after intra-articular injections is minimal, physicians should be alerted to this possibility in patients with suboptimal diabetes control.