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High sugar while on Chemo - advice needed

Frenchclass

Frenchclass

Member
Messages
24
Location
Brittany
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I have Asbestosis and have just started some more chemotheropy after the last time 2.5 years ago. I have had a lower strengh chemo this time so do not need steroids which I know pushed my levels up very high last time.

3 weeks ago I started my new chemo course and the day after I nearly fainted at about 2 pm, my partner said I was shaking and nerly passed out. i was fine in 30 mis after a frit drink and a sandwich. When I go home I did a reading and I was 11.8. I though this was due to the food as I though I had had a low as I had breakfast cereal at 8 am taken a 850 mg metformin, then had dirrheea at about 11 am while outshopping and nothing else to eat as shipped lunch and carried on shopping, it was the wifes birthday!

A few days befor this I had my 3 month Fasting blood test and was 8.2. I was on Metformin 3 x500 and have been for about 4 years. I keep usually below 8 which my doctor has been OK with. The last few months I have had fuid around the hard and even walking up stairs had me puffing. So hence the new chemo regime to get rid of it and swat the cancer again. I could breath better a few days after my first session. However just before the cheomo my new Doctor just upped me to 3 x 850 a day, which I thougjh was a little drastic as I wasnt walking the dog or doing much physical work for a few months, and after the chemo I know I would get my sugar below 8 again...

I have just been taking 2 x 850 and my levels have been from 7 to 8 in the morning and previously without with out exercise had been aroud 10. I had my next chemo the second of 5 yesterrday, had my normal fruit cereal for breakfast and was 23.4 at 10.30 then at 12.noon I was 29.0.. I did not test my self the day after the chemo last time, so I am putting this very high level to the chemo and will take 3 x 850 today and maybe a few days more.

Sorry for the long post, any advice.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Hi @Frenchclass and welcome.
You have had 53 views to date.
Yours is a difficult post to answer as we are not medically trained and do not know what effects your treatment is having.
I wish I could answer but it seems likely that the chemo is the cause of your high blood sugars.
There are other members who have had treatment for cancer and I hope they will see your post and relate their experiences.
Take care.
 
I've read your post and do not feel qualified to answer it either. I hope someone out there can offer their opinions but do ask someone involved in your care. :)
 
Frenchclass said:
Have I done something wrong, not had even 1 view!
Click to expand...
No you have done nothing wrong, I just felt unqualified to give you a useful answer except to say I sympathise greatly with your situation and possibly to add that chemo at any level can be traumatic and the bodies reaction to it could affect your blood sugar levels also this time as you have not had steroids your immune system will be stronger and free to react to the chemo and raise blood sugars but that is just a layman's guess and not a medical one. I do hope your situation is resolved soon and you start to feel better.

John
 
Hi,

It is very difficult to answer your question. Every chemo regime is different, different chemicals, different strengths, different side effects and so on. Certainly the ones used for breast cancer do, and that is all I have experience of. Yes of course the chemo might be causing raised BS levels, but so might your cancer symptoms and the stress caused by illness, discomfort, and the unpleasantness of the chemo infusions.

I believe you need to discuss your raised levels with your Oncologist - and before your next session.

Sorry I can't be of more help - your Oncologist is definitely the person to see.
 
Frenchclass said:
Have I done something wrong, not had even 1 view!
Click to expand...

Frenchclass, I don't know the answer to your question, but would speculate your body is just fighting really hard at the moment. Thankfully, I have never experienced chemo, but I think in your shoes, my tactic might be to try to really look after myself during the chemo period, by having a decent diet, lots of rest and sleep and almost ring fence it in my head. Your body has a lot going on, and there's little you can do to change it for now.

Do keep testing, and if you keep having these numbers, your chemo support team, or your GP might be able to give you some insight and/or ideas for management through it. 23 and 29 are very high numbers, so please don't ignore them.

How are you feeling with those numbers?
 
Hi everyone and thanks for taking the time to reply, I do understand that all cases are different and after 2 very high days I have settled down now and this mornings reading was 7.7 so a lot better. I think it was the chemotheropy and should settle until the next time in 3 weeks for my next dose.

I have been a little slack with my diabetes over the past few years, because I though if I have 5 years or so to go because of the cancer, I might as well slacken up a little as diabetes isnt going to get that bad in that time. I am not overweight and never really have been, infact just 76 kilos on chemo and 80 ish after. I just have too many carbs in my diet but stay aways from all refined sugars. As I have said normal execise has been difficult of late but as my breathing is better and the sun is finally out, I should get more which I know will help more than anything else.

Thanks again for comments and support, we all I am sure go off the rails at times, especially living in France!
 
Yes, a relief for you that your levels have dropped back down again. You will know what to expect next time and not panic, but do test religiously and seek help if the numbers escalate to dangerous levels, plus drink loads of water. (which also helps with the chemo stuff)

Good luck with everything, and do keep posting if you need advice, help, support, or friendly chat. :)
 
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