POMC and Hyperglycemia: A mechanism that could explain the relation between diabetes and increased corticosterone is that hyperglycemia induces a stress response, leading to the increased production of corticosterone (as measured by increased adreno-corticotrophic hormone (ACTH) levels); another mechanism could involve the impairment of hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity by hyperglycemia, resulting in the decreased metabolism of corticosterone [70].