Glycemic control and cortisol levels in patients with cushing

Baltagi Myriam; Nacef Ibtissem Ben; Sawsen Essayeh; Sabrine Mekni; Rihab Laamouri; Khiari Karima; Rojbi Imen

doi:10.1530/endoabs.110.EP143

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Endocrine Abstracts (2025) 110 EP143 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.110.EP143

ECEESPE2025 ePoster Presentations Adrenal and Cardiovascular Endocrinology (170 abstracts)

Glycemic control and cortisol levels in patients with cushing’s syndrome

Baltagi Myriam ¹ , Ibtissem Ben Nacef ¹ , Sawsen Essayeh ¹ , Sabrine Mekni ¹ , Rihab Laamouri ¹ , Khiari Karima ¹ & Rojbi Imen ¹

Author affiliations

¹Hospital of Charles Nicolle, Tunis, Tunisia

JOINT2265

Introduction: Cortisol excess in Cushing’s syndrome (CS) is a well-established cause of insulin resistance and impaired glycemic control. This study investigates the correlation between cortisol levels and glycemic control in CS patients.

Methods: We included 22 patients diagnosed with CS, assessing their baseline cortisol levels, ACTH levels, fasting blood glucose, and HbA1c at diagnosis and after treatment. Treatment aimed at normalizing cortisol levels was initiated, and glycemic control was reassessed post-treatment.

Results: A strong positive correlation was found between baseline cortisol and fasting blood glucose (r=0.68, P<0.01), as well as HbA1c (r=0.72, P<0.01). After treatment, patients who achieved cortisol suppression showed significant improvements in both fasting blood glucose (mean decrease of 23%) and HbA1c (mean decrease of 0.9%).

Discussion: This study confirms that cortisol excess significantly impairs glycemic control in CS patients. The correlation between cortisol levels and both fasting blood glucose and HbA1c suggests that controlling cortisol levels is a key strategy for managing diabetes in this population.

Conclusion: The findings highlight the importance of cortisol suppression in improving glycemic control in CS patients. Monitoring cortisol levels may provide valuable insights into the management of diabetes in this context.