Our present data demonstrated the inhibitory effects of glucocorticoids on retinal glial galectin‐1 expression via DUSP1‐dependent and ‐independent deactivation of AP‐1 signalling (ie GR‐mediated transactivation and transrepression, respectively), highlighting therapeutic implications for the management of DR, especially if patients suffer from vision‐threatening macular oedema. Here, DUSP1 is linked to macular retinal edema.