How Does Entocort Affect Your Blood Sugar Level?

Entocort is a medcation used to treat Crohn's disease.  It does not cure Crohn's disease, but can help decrease diarrhea and pain associated with the condition.  It has been shown to increase blood sugar levels and alter glucose tolerence.  Diabetics taking Entocort can have trouble controlling their blood glucose levels.

How Does Entocort Affect Your Blood Sugar Level? 
 
Entocort can raise blood sugar levels while the patient is taking the medication.  Diabetics are at a higher risk of seeing high glucose levels, but patients without diabetes are also at risk of high glucose levels.  When Entocort is discontinued, blood sugar levels return to normal and there are no lasting effects on blood sugar.   
 
Glucose Control  

Entocort can change your body's tolerance to glucose.  When the body becomes glucose intolerant, it must produce more insulin to lower blood sugar levels.  This is known as pre-diabetes.  Eventually, the body is unable to keep up with insulin demands and diabetes is diagnosed.   
 
The body mistakes Entocort as the hormone insulin, which is produced by the pancreas.  The body will think there is too much insulin, so it will slow down production.  Since Entocort does not have an effect on blood sugar levels like insulin does, the body does not have enough insulin to keep glucose levels constant.   
 
Diabetics and Entocort 

Inform your doctor if you are diabetic before taking Entocort.  Your doctor may decide to prescribe the medication even if you are diabetic.  If he does, you will need to carefully monitor your blood sugar levels.   
 
Your blood sugar should be between 80 and 120 mg/dL before meals.  After meals, it should be no higher than 160 mg/dL.  Before bedtime it should be between 100 and 140 mg/dL.  Report unusually high blood sugar readings to your doctor if you are taking Entocort.   Unusually high readings are over 180 mg/dL every day for a week or greater than 300 mg/dL two times in a row.