Diabetes, inhaled corticosteroids may be linked, study finds

NEW YORK — A link may exist between diabetes and the use of inhaled corticosteroids to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to published reports.

HealthDay News reported that researchers analyzed data on 380,000 patients in Quebec, finding a 34% increase in the rate of new diagnoses of diabetes and progression of the disease among those who used inhalers, with greater risk among those using higher doses.

Still, the article quoted an endocrinologist at the New York University Medical Center who said “pro-inflammatory” lifestyle choices associated with the respiratory diseases and Type 2 diabetes could be a factor rather than the inhalers themselves.