Question: How often do patients who have Cushing’s become diabetic, what type of diabetes is this and does it usually resolve after treatment of Cushing’s?

Answer: It is estimated that approximately 60-70% of patients with Cushing’s syndrome have impaired glucose tolerance, but only 25% of them have diabetes at the time of presentation. Patients with Cushing’s syndrome usually have type 2 diabetes (the type of diabetes associated with insulin resistance and obesity) in contrast to type 1 diabetes (the type of diabetes which is due to complete insulin deficiency). Following recovery from Cushing’s syndrome, diabetes is almost always easier to manage and may even completely resolve.

By Dr. James Findling MD (Winter, 2012)