Topical corticosteroids and the risk of diabetes mellitus: a nested case-control study in the Netherlands

van der Linden M, Penning-van Beest F, Nijsten T, Herings R

Drug Saf. 2009;32(6):527-37. doi:10.2165/00002018-200932060-00008.

While there is still much to study and learn about the relationship between topical corticosteroid exposure and risk of diabetes, more evidence is proving there is an association. Nearly 200,000 topical corticosteroid users were studied, of those patients, 2,212 developed diabetes. Through this study, researchers were able to determine that there is a 1.24-fold increased risk of developing diabetes associated with using topical corticosteroids, a factor that must be considered while treating patients – especially those patients who need intense skin therapy.