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diabetes and chemotherapy

Mother is from the "diabetic side" of the family but her only real symptom has been high blood pressure, for about 40 - 50 years. Her lipids are still excellent.

However she has been on numerous courses of steroids which bump up her BG, so far not to diabetic levels and so far reversibly. This is very common, some people are put on insulin during steroid treatment.

Often though it is not reversible and they tend to bring on diabetes permanently. It's a bit surprising that oncologists don't take this into account, maybe because it is outside of their own area of specialisation.
 
Hi Prinny,

Yes, Chemo does have far reaching effects on the body and probably in a way that experts still have no idea about.

When I did mention this to the consultant I saw the other day as part of my follow up for cancer, she didn't really seemed at all interested or bothered. That did surprise me really. To be perfectly frank, I doubt whether nurses or GP's would have an idea either. It is very confusing.

I have extremely bad pins and needles at night. I did mention this to my GP and he said that he doubted whether it would be because of the diabetes but mainly due to the chemo. The consultant then told me exactly the opposite.

The main problem is that we have to put our trust in these people for informed decisions and diagnosise rather than guesses.

What are we supposed to do?

I hope your run goes well and you raise plenty of money. My wife did one last year in Cardiff.

take care,

Pete
 
hi pete thanks for the good wishes for the race for life, do you know anything about the low carb diet i have been reading about, i am a bit confused my nurse tells me to eat carbs especially at supper time cereal or plain biscuits, i thought you needed them for the glucose to release slowly in the blood. i missed having supper a few weeks ago and had a whopping hypo in the night my bloods were down to 2mml and my husband helped me with glucose tablets as i was like someone who had had a few too many, thats the first bad hypo i have had, i always know when i need something to eat as i get very shaky so that is soon solved but the carb thing is something i need to know more about, any advice would be welcome, thank you, all the best prinny.
 
Hi Prinny,

To be honest I do not follow any strict low carb diet at all. It is just that everything I have read seems to indicate that having less carbs seem to be a good thing.

I am still in the learning stage as well. When I did see a nurse at my health centre she told me the same as your nurse probably told you. I was told to eat plenty of starchy carbohydrates.

I did start off doing that-- I was having plenty of potatoes, peas, butter beans with my roast meals.
My readings after the meals was always generally in the 8 plus mark. I thought that was good util I started to do some serious fact finding etc. I also wanted to lose weight as well.

My nurse said that I need only check my blood sugars about three times a week or so. That was complete rubbish. How would I ever have an idea what sent my blood sugar up if I did not check frequently.

Basically, where I am at at the moment is to have as few carbohydrates as I can handle. I do eat more protein and fat. Generally my blood sugars are between 5 to 7. I am not on any medication relating to the diabetes so I guess I can do that to test the ground.

Yesterday evening for supper I had one ryvita biscuit and some cheddar cheese. After two hours I checked and by BG was 6.7 the highest it had been all day. I assume that the carbs in the ryvita did that.

From what I have read it is vitally important to keep your blood sugars down-- obviously not too low as you experienced. So I figured that that was the priority.

I am hoping now that it will have an effect on the terrible pins and needles I get in my feet and hands mostly at night. It really is bad and it keeps me awake or even wakes me up.

As I mentioned in a previous post this is all confusing as the consultant and the GP seem to have different opinions of the cause.

I also bought a book on Amazon about low carb diet and weight loss written by one of those TV chefs-- the one with a beard- forgot his name-- Worral-Thompson, is it? I only got it the other day so I have not really got stuck into it yet.

I wish you all the best with everything.

regards,

Pete
 
hi pete thanks for the info i have found out from someone on the forum that i may still need to eat carbs because i take insulin so i have given them some information about my medication and blood sugar levels so will wait for the reply. i really feel for you suffering bad pins and needles, i hope it can be sorted, i dont get a full nights sleep because of the hot flushes brought on by the chemo and tamoxifen i am now on for the cancer, duvet on duvet off ,my poor hubby one minute boiling next freezing still its a small price to pay for being here and carrying on, i have to stay clear for 5 years now so fingers crossed, all the best, prinny
 
Hi Prinny,

I now what you mean clearly by '5 years'. I was confirmed as being in a complete remission following a PET Scan about 14 months ago now. I was then put on 3 monthly appointments with the registrars/consultants and all seems to be clear so far.

During the process of my diagnosis(long story- took 5 months!), I had to have a pleurodesis, sealing of the pleural cavity of my left lung. That still gives me some discomfort. But I do agree with you when you said that it is a small price to pay.

I was knocked back a bit when diagnosed as T2 a few weeks ago. I did learn a lot during the 'chemo days'. Once I knew what the score was and understood something of the treatment etc then that helps in staying 'positive' and more importantly- maintaining some sort of sense of humour!
I am trying to adapt all that to this diabetes thing as well. One thing I don't want is to feel sorry for myself!

I sincerely wish you all the best Prinny.

regards,

Pete
 
hi pete it sounds as though you have had it rough concerning the cancer, i do wish you well and hope you keep clear of it in the future, as for the diabetes when i was first diagnosed 4 years ago i was paranoid about everything that contained sugar and was super strict with myself. it worked the weight fell off but i was hungry a lot of the time, my diabetes nurse told me not to be so hard on myself and that we are only human and if i went out for a meal to have what i wanted and enjoy it as long as you are careful most of the time, i heeded her words and relaxed a bit more and stopped worrying about every scrap of food i put in my mouth, dont get me wrong i am careful i want to look after myself as all of us do we all just do the best we can, so keep at it and try not to worry too much, all the best prinny.
 
Hi Prinny,
I have to say that I am probably also very hard on myself when it comes to what I eat. I am a bit paranoid in checking my blood sugar etc. I get a bit anxious if it goes above 7 and wonder what made that happen.

For example. I took my reading 2 hours after I ate dinner and it was 6.3 Later on in the evening I was sitting watch TV and was contemplating going to bed. I felt the pins and needles were gradually coming on and wondered why that was. I then decided to see what my reading was to see if that had changed. I was fully expecting it to have gone lower but it had risen to 7.2 and I only had a mug of tea after dinner.

I am a bit worried by this 'pins and needles' though.

I have to say that since I have cut down on the carbs my weight has reduced significantly. I wonder if trying to do things too quickly 'upsets' the body and it reacts somehow.

I love curry and cook them very well using all the spices etc. Of course rice is a big no no. I found an alternative for rice using cauliflower. It really is not too bad. So at least I can continue with curries! I also love noodles(my wife is from SE Asia) but they are a no no as well. there are some Japanese noodles called shiataki(or something like that) which are very low in carbs BUT they are always sold out on-line when I try to order.

I think that your attitude towards food etc is probably correct. being sensible is the key, I guess.

Thanks for your best wishes by the way.

kindest regards,

Pete
 
hi pete thanks for the reply, i have just done my first full day back at work after my illness and feeling a bit tired but it will get better as time goes on. i agree with you that we all get a bit paranoid about food and what it does to our bs levels, yours dont seem too bad though it seems you have good control. has your gp checked to see if you have a trapped nerve in your neck or anything like that, i am no expert at all but i just thought it would be an idea to mention it thats if you havnt already done so, it may explain the pins and needles, it might not be anything to do with your diabetes, you never know but its true it can be the cause of many different symptoms, i hope its sorted for you soon, best wishes from prinny
 
Hi Prinny,

I had to smile when you mentioned 'trapped nerve'. Of course, that could be the cause. I am seeing the quack in a couple of weeks anyway to discuss it all.

Why I smiled was that was the GP's first diagnosis when my cancer started. he really had no idea, if the truth were known. I was getting a pain in my shoulder. After the trapped nerve diag didn't work he then diagnosed arthritis. A few weeks later when I was getting a bit breathless he thought I had asthma. He then made me stop all my medication for blood pressure etc-- big big mistake as well. When I got to a stage when i couldn't breathe properly and was scared to go to bed at night he then diagnosed a bad chest infection. About 3 or 4 months had elapsed by now. He put me on strong antibiotics and told me to come back in a week. He did not even think to send me for an x-ray. Had he done that at the very very beginning I would not have lost 4 to 5 months.

After he diagnosed a chest infection- the following morning I was rushed to hospital. I had 7 litres of fluid around my lung! The hospital consultants could not believe the selection of diagnosise that the GP had made. Once I was admitted and had the lung aspirated etc and many more tests done I was then diagnosed with stomach cancer. I was then admitted again and after more tests(some very painful, and stressful) they changed their mind to Bowel Cancer. After more tests ie bone marrow, colonscopy and ultra sound biopsies I was eventually diagnosed with a type of lymphatic cancer called a non-hodgkins lymphoma which was sitting around my spleen and bowel. It was also very aggressive and was growing at a fair rate of knots.

Once that was finally diagnosed then the treatment started very rapidly indeed. I had 8 cycles of chemo called R-CHOP and the rest is history as I am still here to tell the tale!!

Basically, the 'trapped nerve' was diagnosed by my GP round about early January 2007 and I was eventually diagnosed with the cancer in the first week of June. About 5 months lost due to a completely and utterly useless and incompetent GP.

I live in a fairly rural part of South wales and it is geographically very difficult to change health practices. I, of course, try to avoid seeing that GP and make an appt for a different one.

You may of course be right- it may be nothing to do with diabetes. I bet the GP says that. However, the consultant also thinks it is nothing to do with the chemo I had even though vincristine has that side effect and , as you know, the steroids (prendisolone) raise blood sugars. I had to have 100mgs daily for 5 days during each of the 8 cycles!!

Anyway, I thank God that I am still around to tell the tale!! Sorry to go on a bit -- it is just that trapped nerve sparked it off! Ha Ha Ha.

regards,

Pete
 
pedro606 said:
The hospital consultants could not believe the selection of diagnosise that the GP had made
Click to expand...

Ask them if they can recommend a better GP, that's what I did when mine turned out to be similarly dangerous.

Shirataki noodles may be worth a try, also bean sprouts or quinoa as a rice substitute. Come to think they may also have better diagnostic skills . . .
 
hi pete glad i made you chuckle theres nothing like a good laugh to cheer us up, you have been through the mill as we say up here in yorkshire and no its not all flat caps and whippets! it sounds as if your gp needs a kick up the backside for messing you about so much, i was lucky i never see the doctor i am registered with, a nice lady doctor started at our surgery last year and i saw her when i found the lump, she didnt mess about and got me booked into the hospital for all the tests the following week, she has been very supportive and i always try and see her when i need to go which may be soon i have started with a chesty cough i am also ahsmatic{dont know if i spelt that right!} so i am prone to chest infections ,will see how it goes, my diet is going fine except i had a pancake for tea! oh well back on the waggon tommorrow, keep laughing its very good for you ,all the best, prinny.
 
Hi Prinny,

Yes, you are absolutely right with the sense of humour. I think it is vital to keep that when going through adversity etc. In fact -- I would say it is a good remedy for anything!

We had a lady doctor start at our surgery a couple of years ago. She is also a local lady as well- so she fully understands the local culture etc. I have only managed to see her once and I was impressed with her understanding and attitude.

The main problem now is -- is that she is so popular that it takes a wait of 3 weeks for an appt! The useless one will see anyone 'tomorrow'.

What does surprise me is that the Health Centre Manager hasn't picked up on this. Mind you- the Health Centre Manager is also useless. I have an 'issue' with her that is currently being investigated through the Local Health Board. She never bothered to arrange for me to be informed that following my GTT results that I was a T2 diabetic. When I confronted her on this she told me that it was not a problem as 'it would have been picked up eventually'!

I could have let them get away with it BUT enough was enough. They had let me down during the lead up to my cancer that I felt I was duty bound to do something.

Pete
 
hi pete i cant believe that the gp manager said it didnt matter about your diabetes as it would be picked up eventually, how long is eventually? thats disgusting, surely most people know that the longer diabetes is ignored the worse it is for your health especially if you are not sure of the symptoms. my nan and my mum both had it so when i started with the tiredness and feeling thirsty all the time i suspected what was wrong as i had seen it happen to both my nan and mum who both unfortunatly died with strokes which of course is one of the things that can happen to diabetics, i am much younger than my mum was when she got it thats why i want to be sure to look after myself as i have seen what it can do, i hope you get something done about it ,its sheer incompetance, all the best, prinny
 
Hi Prinny,

Yes I agree that is why I cannot let her get away with it.

I get the impression, especially after the recent TV news etc, that 'T2 diabetes' is a self inflicted injury caused by years of over indulgence etc. A lot of people do believe that and I hope that Health Centre Manager does not fall into that category.

I contacted the Local Health Board yesterday to see how far my complaint had gone. Apparently the Health centre has 21 days to respond to me. That is almost up. Will be interesting to see what they say.

Pete
 
hi pete what they fail to realise is that diabetes is also inherited, as i have said my nan and mum both had it, as for a life of over indulgence i have never smoked, drink very little and have always been active, my weight has been up and down thats the only thing i can own up to as far as getting diabetes is concerned. it always angers me when they put everyone under the same umbrella and think that everyone with diabetes are smokers, overeaters and get drunk most every night, there are lots of people who do live like that and they dont have it so what does that tell you, sorry to go on but it really annoys me when the media dont know what they are on about, i hope it is sorted out for you, i dont blame you for taking it further,all the best ,prinny
 
Prinny,

I agree entirely. I would not say I had an 'unhealthy' lifestyle whatever that is supposed to be. I had a longish military career as well.

I read in the newspaper this morning that 39% of cancers could have been avoided with a 'healthy' lifestyle. It does annoy me being 'tarred' as person who has spent his whole life over-indulging. It is just a cop out by the authorities.

I know many many many people who could be put into their categories and have not had anything wrong with them. My brother is a typical example. Drinks like a fish, eats tons of fast food, smokes a lot etc - I cannot remember when he last had to visit a doctor or had anything wrong with him. How would they sum that lifestyle up?

I better stop or my blood sugars will rise due to the stress levels!!!!

regards,

Pete
 
hi pete your brother sounds like mine, hes at least 18 stone as well ,he has had a diabetes scare but only on the border line ,he does no exercise at all ,my dad says hes a time bomb waiting to blow we shall see, had to come home early from work today not feeling too good with this cough and cold, i hope it doesnt affect my bs levels as i know infections can ,will keep a check on it, all the best, prinny.
 
Hi Prinny,

Surprisngly my brother is as thin as a rake. That is what baffles me with all this. How come he doesn't get 'fat' or 'obese' as it is fashionably called now to make us feel even worse and guilty.

I hope you get over your infection - I didn't know that they affect your blood sugars.

As I am sure you know- infections were extremely serious during a cycle of chemo - especially 7 to 10 days after chemo when the white blood cell count is virtually zero. I was at a high risk as my cancer was of the lymphatic system. I even saw on my notes that I was called a 'neutropenic'- better than being called a Spurs fan, I guess.

Only once did it become a problem for me and that was during my last cycle of chemo. I was rushed into hospital and put on intravenous antibiotics for a week till it cleared. It was only a bug that causes sore throats but to a 'neutropenic' it was lfe threatening. The consultant made me laugh when he told that he was pleased that I got an infection because that showed the chemo was ding its job! I could see his point!

I am still convinced that all this chemo stuff has had a bearing on me getting T2 diabetes but the 'medical profession' do not agree.

Take care,

Pete
 
hi pete i managed not to get any infections when i was having chemo, i was off work as i am a teaching assistant and i work with young children, my oncologist advised me not to work as you can pick up all sorts of bugs from the little darlings at the best of times! no really i love my job but it just shows you i have only been back a few weeks and i have caught something already but thats the hazards of working with young ones, but i wouldnt change my job i enjoy it too much despite the dreaded bugs, all the best, prinny
 
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