Systemic Effects of Epidural Methylprednisolone Injection on Glucose Tolerance in Diabetic Patients

Several studies have shown that in diabetic patients, the glycemic profile was disturbed after intra-articular injection of corticosteroids. Little is known about the impact of epidural injection in such patients. The goal of this study was double, at first comparing the glycaemic profile in diabetic patients after a unique injection of 80 mg of acetate methylprednisolone either intra-articular or epidural, secondly to compare the amount of systemic diffusion of the drug the after both procedures.

Inclusion Criteria:

• diabetes stable for more than ten days
• no contraindication for steroids
• lumbar stenosis
• articular pain

Exclusion Criteria:

• unstable diabetes
• renal insufficiency