The main glucocorticoid in the body is hydrocortisone, which is secreted at an average of 15 mg per person per day. Glucocorticoids mainly affect carbohydrate metabolism, but to some extent they also affect protein and fat metabolism, promoting protein breakdown and inhibiting protein synthesis. Hydrocortisone has an anti-insulin effect, which increases the conversion of liver glycogen and muscle glycogen to glucose in the body, resulting in increased glucose production, while inhibiting peripheral glucose utilization, resulting in decreased sugar consumption. Hydrocortisone increases renal sodium retention, resulting in increased blood sodium, increased blood volume, increased blood pressure, and increased urinary potassium excretion. It also decreases renal tubular reabsorption of uric acid and increases the production of gastric acid. Hydrocortisone can cause eosinophilia and degeneration of lymphoid tissue, and increase blood coagulability. Supraphysiologic amounts of glucocorticoids can show various pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory effects, anti-allergy, non-specific immune suppression and antipyretic effects. Therefore, they are often used in the treatment of certain rheumatic diseases.