Final answer:
Cushing's Syndrome leads to the overproduction of cortisol, which raises blood glucose levels and causes insulin resistance. These effects increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and treatments focus on reducing cortisol levels.
Step-by-step explanation:
Patients with Cushing's Syndrome often develop type 2 diabetes due to the biological response to elevated cortisol levels. Cortisol, a glucocorticoid hormone, plays a significant role in glucose metabolism. It stimulates gluconeogenesis, which is the production of glucose from non-carbohydrate sources, and this process raises blood glucose levels. Persistent high levels of cortisol in Cushing's Syndrome can thereby lead to hyperglycemia. Moreover, cortisol antagonizes the action of insulin, leading to insulin resistance, a risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes.
Other complications that occur in Cushing's Syndrome, such as the redistribution of fat to the abdomen, face, and back of the neck, as well as muscle weakness and bone density loss, can compound the risk of developing diabetes and other metabolic disorders. Therefore, treatments for Cushing's Syndrome, which can include surgery, radiation therapy, and medications, aim to regulate or reduce the excessive levels of cortisol.