TNF and Hyperglycemia: While increased levels of GC are associated with obesity, high blood pressure, and hyperglycemia, decreased blood levels of cortisol result in a compensatory secretion of inflammatory mediators such as Interleukin-1 (IL-1), Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) [7, 8] Figs. 1–6.