(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Athletes who take human growth hormone to boost their performance may end up paying a high price for victory.

A case report involving a body builder who took the hormone for three years links it to diabetes.

Authors of the new study write human growth hormone is known to cause high blood sugar, but has still become popular among competitive athletes because it is often undetectable in screenings for performance-enhancing substances. This case occurred in a 36-year-old professional body builder with a history of anabolic steroid use who initially took insulin to counteract the high blood sugar effects, but discontinued its use when he experienced a few episodes of low blood sugar.

By the time the researchers saw him, his blood sugar was soaring and he was suffering from classic signs of diabetes, including weight loss and excessive urination, thirst and appetite. He also had an inflamed liver, enlarged kidneys, and was dehydrated.

The man was released from the hospital after five days of intravenous fluids and increasing doses of insulin. Six weeks later, his diabetic symptoms had resolved.

Noting growth hormone and insulin are both readily available on the Internet, the authors write their case may be only the first of many that will eventually come to light. "Owing to the repercussions of its use, documented growth hormone misuse among athletes is likely to represent only the 'tip of the iceberg,'' they write.

SOURCE: British Journal of Sports Medicine, published online Feb. 25, 2007