What is secondary diabetes?

Secondary diabetes refers to diabetes caused by a known primary disease (For example, certain endocrine diseases, drugs, genetic syndromes, etc.).

Unlike type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes, the occurrence of secondary diabetes is usually not related to genetic, lifestyle and other factors, but due to other health problems or drug side effects leading to islet beta cell dysfunction or increased insulin resistance. For

example, some endocrine diseases, such as Cushing syndrome, hyperthyroidism, etc., can cause abnormal hormone levels in the body, which in turn interfere with the normal action of insulin, resulting in increased blood sugar. In addition, long-term use of certain drugs, such as glucocorticoids, thiazide diuretics, etc., may also induce diabetes.

Treatment of secondary diabetes requires not only management of the hyperglycemia itself, but more importantly treatment of the primary disease that causes diabetes or adjustment of drug use. In some cases, symptoms of diabetes may be relieved or completely reversed once the primary disease is controlled or the drug is discontinued.