The Clash of Two Epidemics: the Relationship Between Opioids and Glucose Metabolism

TY - JOUR

T1 - The Clash of Two Epidemics

T2 - the Relationship Between Opioids and Glucose Metabolism

AU - Koekkoek, Laura L

AU - van der Gun, Luna L

AU - Serlie, Mireille J

AU - la Fleur, Susanne E

N1 - © 2022. The Author(s).

PY - 2022/5/20

Y1 - 2022/5/20

N2 - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: We are currently in the midst of a global opioid epidemic. Opioids affect many physiological processes, but one side effect that is not often taken into consideration is the opioid-induced alteration in blood glucose levels.RECENT FINDINGS: This review shows that the vast majority of studies report that opioid stimulation increases blood glucose levels. In addition, plasma levels of the endogenous opioid β-endorphin rise in response to low blood glucose. In contrast, in hyperglycaemic baseline conditions such as in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), opioid stimulation lowers blood glucose levels. Furthermore, obesity itself alters sensitivity to opioids, changes opioid receptor expression and increases plasma β-endorphin levels. Thus, opioid stimulation can have various side effects on glycaemia that should be taken into consideration upon prescribing opioid-based medication, and more research is needed to unravel the interaction between obesity, glycaemia and opioid use.

AB - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: We are currently in the midst of a global opioid epidemic. Opioids affect many physiological processes, but one side effect that is not often taken into consideration is the opioid-induced alteration in blood glucose levels.RECENT FINDINGS: This review shows that the vast majority of studies report that opioid stimulation increases blood glucose levels. In addition, plasma levels of the endogenous opioid β-endorphin rise in response to low blood glucose. In contrast, in hyperglycaemic baseline conditions such as in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), opioid stimulation lowers blood glucose levels. Furthermore, obesity itself alters sensitivity to opioids, changes opioid receptor expression and increases plasma β-endorphin levels. Thus, opioid stimulation can have various side effects on glycaemia that should be taken into consideration upon prescribing opioid-based medication, and more research is needed to unravel the interaction between obesity, glycaemia and opioid use.

U2 - 10.1007/s11892-022-01473-0

DO - 10.1007/s11892-022-01473-0

M3 - Article

C2 - 35593927

SN - 1534-4827

VL - 22

SP - 301

EP - 310

JO - Current Diabetes Reports

JF - Current Diabetes Reports

ER -