Rationale: Patients hospitalized for COPD exacerbation treated with high dose glucocorticoids, frequently develop hyperglycaemia. Currently, sliding scale insulin is often used to bridge such episodes. However, sliding scale insulin is patient unfriendly, does not reduce glycaemic excursion nor glycaemic variability. In contrast, pharmacologic inhibition of the sodium glucose transporter-2 (SGLT-2) can be given as an oral agent and is likely to result in better glucose control with lower risk of hypoglycaemia Objective: glucose control and safety (risk of hypoglycaemia). Secondary objectives are patient satisfaction, other safety outcomes and other parameters of glucose control Study design: Double-blind placebo controlled intervention study Study population: Patients hospitalized for an exacerbation of chronic obstructive lung disease who are treated with high dose glucocorticoids.