Growth hormone may put athletes at risk of diabetes

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Using growth hormone to boost athletic performance could put you at risk of diabetes.
The use of growth hormone has risen steadily among amateur athletes and bodybuilders, who believe it can boost performance. However, as sports medicine experts now reveal, growth hormone may have an unexpected effect upon health.

The new data comes from a case study involving a 36 year old body builder who needed emergency care for chest pain. He reported the classic symptoms of diabetes, which are excessive urination, thirst and appetite. He had been using anabolic steroids for many years and artificial growth hormone for the past three. Added to this, he had also tried insulin to combat high blood sugar. However, insulin should only be given under medical advice - in this man's case, he suffered two episodes of low blood sugar at the gym.

In the hospital, his liver was found to be inflamed, his kidneys enlarged and he was diagnosed with diabetes and dehydration. Fortunately, doctors reversed the situation with fluids and insulin. This is the first case of diabetes linked to growth hormone to come to medical attention. There could be more as it is easy to buy growth hormone and other supplements online. If you have a serious interest in sport that will clearly benefit your health and fitness. Taking supplements, like growth hormone, however, could have the opposite effect.

Source
British Journal of Sports Medicine online 25th February 2007

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