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Blood Glucose and Radiotherapy

Bittern

Bittern

Well-Known Member
Messages
248
Location
East Anglia UK
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I am undergoing a course of radiotherapy and have noticed a sharp rise in morning blood glucose levels, from 8ish, dawn phenomena, to between 11 or 12. No changes to diet or exercise so the conclusion is that the rise is because of the cell repair mechanism. Has anyone else noticed a similar change or have any better ideas of the cause?
 
Bittern said:
I am undergoing a course of radiotherapy and have noticed a sharp rise in morning blood glucose levels, from 8ish, dawn phenomena, to between 11 or 12. No changes to diet or exercise so the conclusion is that the rise is because of the cell repair mechanism. Has anyone else noticed a similar change or have any better ideas of the cause?
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Bittern, I am fortunate enough not to have had to experience what you're going through right now, but, like you, I might be inclined to consider a rise in my numbers to be linked to the treatment, one way or another. Is the rise consistent during the day? Are all your numbers up?

I wish you well with the balance of your treatment and for the best of outcomes.
 
First, I wish you the very best with your treatment!

Second, for many of us our blood glucose reacts to stress, be it psychological stress or physical stress. I imagine radiotherapy is quite a big stressor on both the body and the mind.
While your bg's aren't ridiculously high, it could be worthwile to ask a specialist HCP if it would be worthwhile adding some medication to get them a bit lower for the time being.
 
I do hope all goes really well.

Radiotherapy is more aligned with cell death, than cell repair.

It may well be the radiotherapy's inflammatory response that that could be attributed to blood sugar rises.

BTW - are you taking steroids, like dexamethasone or prednisolone?
 
DCUKMod said:
Bittern, I am fortunate enough not to have had to experience what you're going through right now, but, like you, I might be inclined to consider a rise in my numbers to be linked to the treatment, one way or another. Is the rise consistent during the day? Are all your numbers up?

I wish you well with the balance of your treatment and for the best of outcomes.
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Thank you, yes all numbers are up, just interested to see if anyone else has notices the effect as a sample of 1 is a bit small to reach any serious conclusions.
 
Struma said:
I do hope all goes really well.

Radiotherapy is more aligned with cell death, than cell repair.

It may well be the radiotherapy's inflammatory response that that could be attributed to blood sugar rises.

BTW - are you taking steroids, like dexamethasone or prednisolone?
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Yes I agree but there is some scar generation going on. I hadn't thought about the inflammatory response, you could well be right, and no I am not taking any steroids. Not hugely worried as radiotherapy is relatively short term and the numbers can be dealt with after the course is finished
 
Bittern said:
.... the numbers can be dealt with after the course is finished
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I couldn't agree more. Sometimes the focus just has to be elsewhere for a short while.

Again, good luck with it all.
 
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