A corticosteroid or "cortisone" shot can cause a side effect of high blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. In most cases, this effect lasts several days. If you use insulin, you may need a larger dose during this time. It is appropriate to check your blood sugar using a glucometer and test strips more often after you receive a medication that could alter your sugar.

Several other medications can affect blood sugar. The drugs that are more likely to raise blood sugar levels include:

• Prednisone or other corticosteroid pills
• Olanzapine (Zyprexa)
• Quetiapine (Seroquel)
• Clozapine (Clozaril)
• Risperidone (Risperdal)
• Aripiprazole (Abilify)
• Ziprasidone (Geodon)

Certain antibiotics can sometimes cause abrupt changes in blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. The ones you need to be especially aware of are:

• Gatifloxacin
• Ciprofloxacin
• Levofloxacin
• Moxifloxacin

They can send the sugar high or low.

You should monitor your blood sugar more closely when you are taking any of the medications listed above.