The magnitude of dexamethasone-induced hyperglycemia in cataract surgical patients with normal glucose metabolism: a continuous glucose monitoring based study

Background To determined 24-hrs glycemic variations using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in cataract surgical patients with normal glucose metabolism receiving dexamethasone therapy. Methods This was a single-center, randomized, observational and prospective trial. Between June 2017 and December 2018, cataract surgical patients with normal glucose toleration were recruited, and were randomized assigned at a ratio of 1:2 to either receiving 10 mg dexamethasone daily for 3 days after cataract surgical (dexamethasone group) or without dexamethasone therapy (control group). A retrospective CGM was performed at afternoon on -1 day before cataract operation performed for at least 3 days. The primary endpoint was the difference in mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (MAGE) between the two groups. Results We observed that patients receiving 10 mg dexamethasone daily showing mild increase in mean glucose and hourly mean glucose throughout 24-hrs compared to control group. We also detected that dexamethasone leading to a significant increase in glycemic variation, in term of standard deviation, and a number increase in MAGE and CV%.Conclusion Our data reveal that short period administration of dexamethasone leading a mild increase in glycemic variations (GV). However, the increased GV may have not clinically relevant. Our data indicates that short duration of 10 mg dexamethasone once daily may be a safe therapy regarding glycemic metabolism in subjects without diabetes.