How Common Is Hypercortisolism in Type 2 Diabetes?

Hypercortisolism can cause high blood sugar and worsen insulin resistance, but its prevalence among people with poorly controlled diabetes is uncertain. In this industry-funded U.S.-based study, investigators conducted low-dose dexamethasone suppression tests (DSTs) among 1000 adults with “difficult-to-control” type 2 diabetes, defined by the authors as having a hemoglobin A1c between 7.5% and 11.5% despite receiving multiple standard-of-care therapies. Patients were recruited from diabetes specialty clinics, and about 40% of them were taking four or more glucose-lowering medications.