Corticosteroid Injections Administered Under Ultrasound Guidance to Diabetic Patients and the Effect on Blood Glucose

The purpose of this study is to measure the effect of various corticosteroids administered to the shoulder, knee, and hip joints in diabetic patients on resultant blood glucose readings.

Corticosteroid injections (CSI) are frequently used in orthopedic settings in order to treat a wide array of orthopedic issues, including osteoarthritis, bursitis, tendinitis, and many others. The effect of diabetes on the musculoskeletal system and its role in orthopedic disease has been well-documented. Current evidence demonstrates that corticosteroids, even when administered through a local musculoskeletal injection, can lead to temporary increases in blood glucose. Ultrasound guidance was not explicitly used in any of the studies examining the impact of steroids on blood glucose. The utilization of ultrasound guidance has been shown to increase accuracy when performing injections into the subacromial space as well as the glenohumeral joint when compared to palpation/landmark-guided injections.