Finasteride Induced Hyperglycemia
October 2023
in “
Journal of the Endocrine Society
”
TLDR Finasteride may worsen blood sugar control in diabetic patients.
This case study discusses a 69-year-old obese male diabetic patient who experienced worsening hyperglycemia after starting finasteride, a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, in 2018. The patient's hemoglobin A1c increased from 7% to 8.2%, and he reported weight gain. The study suggests that finasteride may induce hyperglycemia by causing insulin resistance and liver disturbances. It recommends cautious monitoring or avoidance of finasteride or dutasteride in diabetic patients to prevent worsening hyperglycemia and related complications.