What must be monitored when administering Betamethasone?

When administering Betamethasone, monitoring blood sugar levels is critical because this corticosteroid can cause hyperglycemia, especially in patients with diabetes or those predisposed to diabetes. Corticosteroids like Betamethasone can affect glucose metabolism, leading to increased blood sugar levels. It is particularly important for healthcare providers to watch for signs of elevated blood sugar and to manage them accordingly, especially in patients who may not have had issues with blood sugar levels previously.

Monitoring blood pressure, body temperature, and heart rate is important in broader clinical practices, as these factors can indicate overall patient stability and response to treatment. However, they are not as directly influenced by the administration of Betamethasone as blood sugar levels are, making blood sugar the primary focus in this scenario.