Before you start taking steroids, talk to your doctors about how to keep your blood sugar level within your target range.
It is very important that your blood sugar level is checked regularly during steroid treatment. You will have your blood sugar tested when you go to the hospital. If you do not already check your blood sugar level at home, you will need to start checking it. Make sure you have blood-testing equipment at home.

If you already check your blood sugar level, you may need to check it more often. Keep a record of your blood sugar level. This will help you see if there is a pattern. Your blood sugar level is high (12mmol/l or more) on more than 2 or 3 occasions. Your blood sugar is more than 20mmol/l.
Contact your doctors straight away and check for ketones. Ketoacidosis (DKA) is an emergency. We have more information on what to do if you think you may have DKA. You feel unwell or develop any of the symptoms of high blood sugar. You are concerned about your blood sugar level.
It is important to regularly contact your diabetes team during cancer treatment. This is because your diabetes management may need to change regularly during your treatment. If your blood sugar level stays high while you are taking steroids, your cancer doctor or specialist nurse may change the dose of the steroids and the time you take them.
You may also need to change the way you manage your diabetes. Your diabetes team will advise you how to do this. Correction doses of insulin can be used to reduce very high blood sugars. These may not work as well when you are taking steroids. Contact your diabetes team first for advice.
They may suggest you take more insulin.