dissecting the interaction between antiviral medication and diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by elevated blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia) due to defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both.  infectious diseases by various viruses can impact humans’ health. it has been demonstrated that antiviral medications may be linked to the development of diabetes or exacerbation of existing diabetes mellitus. this mini review aims to summarize the current evidence on the effects of antiviral agents on blood glucose levels. the studies revealed that some antiviral drugs, such as ribavirin, remdesivir, interferon-α, lopinavir, ritonavir, and zidovudine, have the potential to increase the risk of development of diabetes mellitus or worsen existing diabetes. while raltegravir's impact on diabetes mellitus is controversial. therefore, it can be suggested the measurement of blood glucose, insulin, glutamic acid decarboxylase and islet cell autoantibody levels before and during the antiviral therapy.