Which patient is at the highest risk for developing side effects from corticosteroids?

Patients taking corticosteroids often face a range of side effects due to the drug's mechanism of mimicking cortisol and affecting various metabolic processes in the body. Among the choices provided, individuals with diabetes are particularly susceptible to the adverse effects of corticosteroids.

Corticosteroids can cause hyperglycemia by increasing glucose production and decreasing insulin sensitivity. For patients with existing diabetes, this means that their blood sugar levels can become increasingly difficult to control, leading to hyperglycemic episodes or even diabetic complications. Therefore, a patient who has diabetes is at a heightened risk for developing significant side effects from corticosteroid treatment, given the interplay of these drugs with glucose metabolism.

The other options also represent patients who might have some risk due to their underlying conditions, but the direct and immediate risk of corticosteroids causing detrimental metabolic issues in someone with diabetes is generally more acute and concerning. This highlights the increased vigilance required in monitoring blood glucose levels and the potential for corticosteroids to exacerbate the management of diabetes.