Glucocorticoid is widely used in clinical treatment. Recently, there was research about glucose fluctuations under low-dose and pulse steroid therapy in elderly patients with active autoimmune diseases. Through this prospective trial, the investigators wanted to know the blood glucose characteristics under high dosage glucocorticoid (1-2 mg/kg/day prednisone or equivalent) in young patients (30-40 years) with active autoimmune diseases with or without low-dose glucocorticoid maintenance. The investigators used continuous glucose monitoring for 72 hours to get a better understanding of the glucose levels.

As known to all, the dosage and duration of glucocorticoid influences the glucose levels in different diseases. Continuous glucose monitoring becomes a newly effective technology to better understand the glucose level. In this study,the investigators enrolled 25 patients with certain active autoimmune diseases during high-dosage glucocorticoid therapy at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. It was done by monitoring three-day continuous glucose levels by holding continuous glucose monitoring system underneath the skin, which helped to show a unique picture of fluctuations. The participants were divided into two groups according to the glucocorticoid therapy. Group 1 enrolled subjects who were newly commenced 1-2mg/kg/day prednisone-equivalent (intravenous/oral methylpredisolone or oral prednisone) for at least five days. Group 2 enrolled subjects who had underwent less than 15mg/day prednisone-equivalent glucocorticoid maintenance for at least 3 months but treated with high-dose glucocorticoid for the relapse during the study This finding is useful for the suitable treatment to control the hyperglycemia in young patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Young patients with exacerbation of autoimmune disease, requiring 1-2mg/kg/day prednisone or equivalent for treatment;
• could undergo <15mg/kg/day prednisone or equivalent glucocorticoid maintenance in the previous three months;

Exclusion Criteria:

• patients with history of diabetes;
• patients with severe organ dysfunction or failure;
• patients with febrile conditions;

The subjects were recruited from inpatients admitted to the Immunology Department, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), Beijing, China from April 1, 2016 to September 1, 2016. Patients' primary disease was diagnosed according to the criteria by American College of Rheumatology. The spectrum of autoimmune disease included Systemic lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Connective tissue disorders, Sjogren Syndrome, Systemic sclerosis, IgG4-related disease, Bahcet's disease, ANCA-associated vasculitis, polymyositis, dermatomyositis.