COPD & diabetes

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Hello,

I am a first year nursing student and I was wondering if someone could explain to me the reason why patients with COPD can also have an elevated blood sugar when they have no history of diabetes. I know that it has something to do with the inflammation that comes with COPD but I don't understand the specifics.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Capacity/Bed Management.

The inflammatory state is stressful to the body and thus cortisol is secreted which can cause hyperglycemia; also if patients are on long term cortico-steroid treatment they can and usually exhibit high blood glucose levels.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

I had a patient tell me the only time he got insulin was in the hospital. What he did not understand was he was in the hospital due to a COPD exacerbation and required steroids which led to hyperglycemia and insulin therapy. Outside the hospital he did not check his blood sugar, but I bet it was elevated most of the time.

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