Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effect of intra-articular (IA) corticosteroid injection (IACI) of betamethasone dipropionate/betamethasone sodium phosphate (Diprospan) on blood glucose levels in diabetic patients

Methods: Patients with type 2 diabetes and symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee (OAK) in whom medical therapy failed were administered 1 mL Diprospan IACI (5 mg of betamethasone dipropionate +2 mg of betamethasone sodium phosphate). Patients were asked to monitor blood glucose levels before and 2 h after meals for 1 week before and 12 days after the injection was administered. A control group was administered an IA injection of hyaluronic acid.

Results: Twelve patients from the Diprospan group and six from the control group were recruited for the study. Patients in the Diprospan group had significantly increased blood glucose levels with median initial and peak levels of 187.5 mg% and 310 mg%, respectively, at a median of 4 and 11.5 h following IACI, respectively. The last peak level was seen after a median of 45 h following IACI. There was no significant increase in blood glucose levels in the control group.

Conclusion: Diprospan IACI is associated with significantly increased blood glucose levels in all diabetic patients with OAK.

Cite this article as: Habib G, Khazin F, Sakas F, Hakim G, Artul S. The impact of intra-articular injection of diprospan at the knee joint on blood glucose levels in diabetic patients. Eur J Rheumatol 2018; 5: 96-9.