Illicit drugs and the consequences for the management of the person with diabetes (The misuse of drugs and diabetes).

Abstract

The use of illicit drugs, in particular amphetamine based drugs, is becoming increasingly common, with a growing impact on our health system, society at large and the individual drug users. These illicit drugs pose an even greater risk to the person with diabetes due to their effects, both direct and indirect, on blood glucose and on their individual health care behaviours. We will explore the physiological effects of amphetamine based drugs, the newly emerging synthetic analogues, and the associated risks for the individual with diabetes.