Skip to content

Drug interactions

Cortisone + Insulin glulisine

Severity: Moderate

Cortisone and Insulin glulisine: moderate interaction.

Last updated

For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.

Summary

Systemic corticosteroids such as cortisone raise blood glucose and can substantially increase insulin requirements. Hyperglycemia may be marked, especially post-prandially, and resolves when the steroid is withdrawn.

What this interaction means in plain words

Cortisone and Insulin glulisine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.

Evidence level: High

Why it happens

Glucocorticoids increase hepatic gluconeogenesis and cause peripheral insulin resistance, opposing insulin.

What to do

Monitor blood glucose frequently, particularly post-meal, and increase mealtime insulin as needed; reduce the dose again as the steroid is tapered.

What to ask your pharmacist

  • Should I take them at different times of day?
  • Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
  • Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?

Bring a full list of your medicines, including over-the-counter products, supplements and herbal remedies, to every pharmacy visit.

Pro+ members

Unlock the full page

Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Cortisone and Insulin glulisine, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.

  • Full clinical management advice
  • Additional notes
  • Evidence detail
  • Interaction checker for a whole prescription

Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take Cortisone with Insulin glulisine?

MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Cortisone and Insulin glulisine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Systemic corticosteroids such as cortisone raise blood glucose and can substantially increase insulin requirements. Hyperglycemia may be marked, especially post-prandially, and resolves when the steroid is withdrawn.

How serious is the interaction between Cortisone and Insulin glulisine?

MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor blood glucose frequently, particularly post-meal, and increase mealtime insulin as needed; reduce the dose again as the steroid is tapered.

What other medicines interact with Insulin glulisine?

MediHelp also lists interactions of Insulin glulisine with, for example, Alogliptin-pioglitazone, Ethanol, Pentamidine. The full list is on the Insulin glulisine page.

Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app

Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.

Browse A–Z · Drug interactions

Get the app Sign in