A Patient with a History of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

A patient with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and type 2 diabetes has been treated for pneumonia for the past week. The patient has been receiving intravenous corticosteroids as well as antibiotics as part of his therapy. At this time, the pneumonia has resolved, but when monitoring the blood glucose levels, the nurse notices that the level is still elevated. What is the best explanation for this elevation?

A) The antibiotics may cause an increase in glucose levels.
B) The corticosteroids may cause an increase in glucose levels.
C) His type 2 diabetes has converted to type 1.
D) The hypoxia caused by the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease causes an increased need for insulin.