Management of Steroid-Induced Diabetes: A Review of Herbal Medications and Their Role in Modulating Insulin Signaling Pathways.

Background: Steroids are pharmaceuticals that have been extensively used for the treatment of numerous medical ailments. However, they have several negative effects, one of which is hyperglycaemia or Steroid-induced diabetes. It may happen to anybody, with or without a history of diabetes.

Objective: The core objective of this review is to elucidate the pathogenesis, clinical risk factors, and significance of different types of herbal medications utilized in managing steroid-induced diabetes among patients undergoing glucocorticoid therapy.

Methods: The relevant data was obtained by reading many sources, including review papers from various publications that included keywords like glucocorticoids, hyperglycaemia, steroids, and herbal medications. Additionally, information was gathered from online sources.

Results: Steroid-induced diabetes mellitus (SIDM) represents a typical side effect stemming from an uncontrolled elevation of blood glucose level and it is closely related to the long-term damage and dysfunction caused by steroid use. The most commonly used medicinal plants to help manage blood glucose include Anethum graveolens, Gynura procumbens, Inula racemosa, and Gymnema Sylvestre, and the predominant mode of action for many herbal products and secondary metabolites employed in the management of steroid-induced diabetes revolves around modulating insulin signalling pathways.

Conclusion: Glucocorticoids may provoke hyperglycaemia by increasing insulin resistance, which increases hepatic gluconeogenesis while decreasing glucose absorption by peripheral tissues including muscle cells and adipocytes. Presently no current optimal treatment for steroid-induced diabetes is available. Herbal medications have been shown to effectively manage blood sugar levels by maintaining a steroid concentration.