Blood Glucose Levels in Diabetic Patients Following Corticosteroid Injections into the Subacromial Space of the Shoulder

Background: Corticosteroid injections are used to treat a variety of orthopedic conditions with the goal of decreasingpain and inflammation. Administration of systemic or local corticosteroids risks temporarily increasing blood glucoselevels, especially diabetic patients. The purpose of this study is to quantify the effects of corticosteroid injections onblood glucose levels in diabetic patients with shoulder pathology.Methods: Diabetic patients who regularly monitored their blood glucose levels and were indicated for a subacromialcorticosteroid injection were included in this prospective investigation. The typical normal morning fasting glucoseand most recent hemoglobin A1c level was recorded for each patient. After injection, patients were contacted daily toconfirm their fasting morning glucose level for 10 days post-injection.Results: Seventeen consecutive patients were enrolled. Patients with hemoglobin A1c of