2024-06-26 17:35:00
About 1 in 4 people with hard-to-treat type 2 diabetes have elevated cortisol levels, researchers at the Center for Diabetes and Translational and Clinical Sciences at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine found.
Cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands and affects almost every organ and tissue of the body and plays many important roles in daily functioning. Cortisol helps regulate blood sugar levels, energy production, blood pressure, and inflammation. Hypercortisolism can cause weight gain, high blood pressure, muscle weakness, and mood changes. All of these problems can hinder diabetes management.
For this study, researchers examined more than 1,000 diabetics whose hemoglobin A1C levels remained high even though they were receiving multiple cancer treatments. Researchers found that 24% of patients had hypercortisolism. Elevated cortisol levels are even more common in diabetics who take three or more medications for high blood pressure, with about one in three suffering from hypercortisolism.
CT scans showed adrenal abnormalities in about a third of these patients, and a quarter had an adrenal tumor, the researchers said. This suggests that surgery to treat adrenal gland problems can improve diabetes management. The study has now moved to the second phase, in which the researchers evaluated whether reducing cortisol levels could make diabetes more manageable.
Researchers presented their findings at the annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association in Orlando, FL. Results presented at medical meetings should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
#Cortisol #plays #role #hardtotreat #diabetes