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High sugar levels on Chemo

Frenchclass

Frenchclass

Member
Messages
24
Location
Brittany
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I am 59 was diagnosed with type 2 about ten years ago, I was advised to go on metformin but declined and managed with no drugs for 4 years with diet and exercise to the amazement of my Doctor. The slacking of my regime and also being to told it would eventually happen I am on 2 x 500 metformin a day and well in control as I learnt a lot in the early years about diet.

So the new bombshell in July 2013 I found out I have Asbestosis, so another battle to face. Unfortunately it's a nasty one so looking at 5 to (10 in my eyes) years left to play!
Mentally I am cool so far, a lot harder for friends and family. The cancer is in the wall lining of the lung so is not effecting my lifestyle too much, but it is incurable and will spread to other parts of my body, with chemo every so often to slow it down.

I have had to have chemo treatments every 3 weeks for 5 to 6 times, I have had my third one. I have lost weight down to a Healthy 11.5 stone not an ounce of fat, from a normal 12.5 ish.
I was told that my sugar levels would go up with the steroids and other drugs,but though best to not do any readings as there was not a lot I could do about it. Eating slightly less as you do 3 zombie days a few days after treatment, some foods also loose their taste, but fruit clears the nasty taste in my mouth and is still tasty.

I decided to do a few readings and found I was for 20 to 29 a lot of the time, I am normally 7 to 9 in the mornings. My mornings vary but never lower than 10 to 15. The same things occur as you all may well know when you have flu, which I have a touch of to at the moment, but my 6 moths AC1's are never effected. However this is slightly more long long term, although I probably will not need more chemo for a year or so.


Finally a question, sorry for the rant

I am due an AC1 in 2 week but I am sure the doctor will not just treble my meds, has anyone been in this situation and what was done about your levels. Having controlled my diabetics quite well so far I just panic a little when I see high sugar levels even though I know it is temporary.

I have read about interim injections on some forums and even some people taken off chemo! My chant now it that diabetics is hardly going to kill me, nor will the odd cream cake, but I do know I have to remain sensible with my diet, as you never know what treatment is around the corner for Cancer.
 
Hi and a warm welcome to the forum.

Sorry to hear your diagnosis of cancer, life is just not fair for some people.

Your Dr. should be aware that whilst you are having chemo treatment and steroids that your levels will be raised. Your HBA1c is going to be high however you try to manage your diabetes.

I would have a long talk with your Dr. and discuss the options regarding medication and express how you feel. You need to know the pros and cons of leaving your meds as they are or increasing them. Increasing them may mean additional meds besides metformin.

This article is about chemo and diabetes.

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/cancer-questions/diabetes-and-chemotherapy

I wish I could be of more help.

Take care,

CC.
 
I can only echo Catherine's advice. Rest assured that you will have all the advice and support that we can give you.

Doug
 
Thanks for your support CC & Doug , I did use this forum a lot when first diagnosed which help me a great deal as it was so confusing.
I will let you know how I get on, as much to help anyone else tha might find themselves in my position.
Steve
 
I haven't got any constructive advice but we are a friendly group so we would be glad to be here as an outlet to talk things over with.

Good luck with your treatment


Cara
 
Just an update on my sugar levels. My doctor put me on 3 x 500 mg Metformin a day which didn't make a lot of difference until my chemo had finished which was in March. The good news is that a month later after a scan the lining around my lung is less swollen and the Dr said it is the best results he has seen. As asbestosis is incurable it does not mean I am cured, but it has delayed the spread for a while of the cancer, however my life expectancy is still a maximum of five years form last July if I am in the top 5%.

I have gained muscle back and feel really fit, so I ma very positive, I am finally just getting my sugar levels below 10 every morning, they were about 8 prior to my cancer treatment give me an AC1 of about 7 to 7.5. It is hard trying to discipline yourself when you know that diabetics will not kill me, which is now a standing joke if I eat something sweet. However, I have felt a slight feeling of pins and needles in my toes so I still do have to take care of myself. My feet look fine but I will mention it to my doctor at my next AC1 test in August when I also go for another scan to see if there is any movement on the cancer front..

Thanks again everyone for your support and comments, sometimes is nice to off load to strangers!
 
Frenchclass said:
I am 59 was diagnosed with type 2 about ten years ago, I was advised to go on metformin but declined and managed with no drugs for 4 years with diet and exercise to the amazement of my Doctor. The slacking of my regime and also being to told it would eventually happen I am on 2 x 500 metformin a day and well in control as I learnt a lot in the early years about diet.

So the new bombshell in July 2013 I found out I have Asbestosis, so another battle to face. Unfortunately it's a nasty one so looking at 5 to (10 in my eyes) years left to play!
Mentally I am cool so far, a lot harder for friends and family. The cancer is in the wall lining of the lung so is not effecting my lifestyle too much, but it is incurable and will spread to other parts of my body, with chemo every so often to slow it down.

I have had to have chemo treatments every 3 weeks for 5 to 6 times, I have had my third one. I have lost weight down to a Healthy 11.5 stone not an ounce of fat, from a normal 12.5 ish.
I was told that my sugar levels would go up with the steroids and other drugs,but though best to not do any readings as there was not a lot I could do about it. Eating slightly less as you do 3 zombie days a few days after treatment, some foods also loose their taste, but fruit clears the nasty taste in my mouth and is still tasty.

I decided to do a few readings and found I was for 20 to 29 a lot of the time, I am normally 7 to 9 in the mornings. My mornings vary but never lower than 10 to 15. The same things occur as you all may well know when you have flu, which I have a touch of to at the moment, but my 6 moths AC1's are never effected. However this is slightly more long long term, although I probably will not need more chemo for a year or so.

Finally a question, sorry for the rant

I am due an AC1 in 2 week but I am sure the doctor will not just treble my meds, has anyone been in this situation and what was done about your levels. Having controlled my diabetics quite well so far I just panic a little when I see high sugar levels even though I know it is temporary.

I have read about interim injections on some forums and even some people taken off chemo! My chant now it that diabetics is hardly going to kill me, nor will the odd cream cake, but I do know I have to remain sensible with my diet, as you never know what treatment is around the corner for Cancer.
Click to expand...
Frenchclass said:
I am 59 was diagnosed with type 2 about ten years ago, I was advised to go on metformin but declined and managed with no drugs for 4 years with diet and exercise to the amazement of my Doctor. The slacking of my regime and also being to told it would eventually happen I am on 2 x 500 metformin a day and well in control as I learnt a lot in the early years about diet.

So the new bombshell in July 2013 I found out I have Asbestosis, so another battle to face. Unfortunately it's a nasty one so looking at 5 to (10 in my eyes) years left to play!
Mentally I am cool so far, a lot harder for friends and family. The cancer is in the wall lining of the lung so is not effecting my lifestyle too much, but it is incurable and will spread to other parts of my body, with chemo every so often to slow it down.

I have had to have chemo treatments every 3 weeks for 5 to 6 times, I have had my third one. I have lost weight down to a Healthy 11.5 stone not an ounce of fat, from a normal 12.5 ish.
I was told that my sugar levels would go up with the steroids and other drugs,but though best to not do any readings as there was not a lot I could do about it. Eating slightly less as you do 3 zombie days a few days after treatment, some foods also loose their taste, but fruit clears the nasty taste in my mouth and is still tasty.

I decided to do a few readings and found I was for 20 to 29 a lot of the time, I am normally 7 to 9 in the mornings. My mornings vary but never lower than 10 to 15. The same things occur as you all may well know when you have flu, which I have a touch of to at the moment, but my 6 moths AC1's are never effected. However this is slightly more long long term, although I probably will not need more chemo for a year or so.

Finally a question, sorry for the rant

I am due an AC1 in 2 week but I am sure the doctor will not just treble my meds, has anyone been in this situation and what was done about your levels. Having controlled my diabetics quite well so far I just panic a little when I see high sugar levels even though I know it is temporary.

I have read about interim injections on some forums and even some people taken off chemo! My chant now it that diabetics is hardly going to kill me, nor will the odd cream cake, but I do know I have to remain sensible with my diet, as you never know what treatment is around the corner for Cancer.
Click to expand...
 
Hi.
Interested to read your blog re diabetes and chemo as I am having chemo at the moment for breast cancer.
I tried for a year to control my diabetes with diet and exercise but this had no effect what so ever. For the past 10 years I have been taking metformin and gliclazide 3 x a day. I was told I didn't need to test my bg and only see the diabetic nurse at my surgery once a year routinely. However I was advised by my Oncologist to see my Dr/nurse as the chemo could effect my bg. I was given a monitor which I have been using on a regular basis and have been astounded at how high my bg is on chemo days and days following treatment. The diabetic nurse does not seemed concerned when I said they had gone up to 20 + and often in the high teens before eating. I do feel I would like more support but don't feel as someone with type 2 that I am getting it. I never see my GP or the GP who deals with diabetes and infact feel like I am getting 2nd class treatment because having type 2 is my own fault. ( sorry I didn't mean to moan like this)
Good luck with your treatment.
 
Hi JRVL
Firstly there are a few reasons why people are type two and if you have tried exercise with diet then what more do people expect of you, so in my opinion you have done your best. What works for one person doesn't always work for someone else, but of course we have to listen to so many experts!
I also feel that you are not getting enough diabetic care, it should be a maximum of 6 months if under control and less if not. You are not moaning, in this day and age you should be having better care and maybe you have to be a little firmer with you diabetic carers. It is the drugs that you have to take while having chemo that will up your sugar levels so you will need to up your dose of metformin.
 
Frenchclass said:
Hi JRVL
Firstly there are a few reasons why people are type two and if you have tried exercise with diet then what more do people expect of you, so in my opinion you have done your best. What works for one person doesn't always work for someone else, but of course we have to listen to so many experts!
I also feel that you are not getting enough diabetic care, it should be a maximum of 6 months if under control and less if not. You are not moaning, in this day and age you should be having better care and maybe you have to be a little firmer with you diabetic carers. It is the drugs that you have to take while having chemo that will up your sugar levels so you will need to up your dose of metformin.
Click to expand...
 
Hi Frenchclass.
Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. I am going to make an appointment tomorrow to see the diabetic nurse at my surgery and be a a little firmer about my care especially during my chemo. Thank you so much for your advice. Will post the out come when I have had the appt, hopefully this week.
Take care JRVL
 
HI JRVL

I was thinking about this last night and I thought the only way to keep levels down during chemo would be injections. I really would hate to go down that route for future chemo treatments, as I do normally stay in control, with metformin. It is the steroids that they give you while on Chemo that up's the levels so high I think.
Good luck with your appointment, just be firm and quietly demand better care.

Regards
Steve
 
I wonder if different chemo treatments have different effects re blood sugar levels? I wrote a post recently, I was diagnosed with a rare cancer this year and had to have chemoradiation. I was expecting a rise in my levels but they weren't affected by the chemo at all, I had mine as an inpatient and it was given via iv drip over the course of five days instead of a PICC line. Maybe I'm just an oddity..they seemed shocked there was no massive leap in my levels.

Frenchclass, maybe think of it "as needs must". If the chemo has affected you, then it's a common side effect and out of your control. Try and think of insulin (if you need it) as a temporary solution to a temporary problem of very high levels.

Wishing you well.:)
 
Thank you Ladybird you could be right.
My chemo was 6 sessions one day every three weeks as an out patient, I only really started measuring my levels towards the end and could not believe how high they were, due to the steroids, but also a lot of inactivity as you do feel more tired after chemo.

I will ask my doctor before I start the next sessions, which with asbestosis will happen eventually. At the moment I do feel 100% fit, but I do know this will change so I am making the most of this lovely summer we are having in Brittany.
 
1207JRVL said:
Hi Frenchclass.
Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. I am going to make an appointment tomorrow to see the diabetic nurse at my surgery and be a a little firmer about my care especially during my chemo. Thank you so much for your advice. Will post the out come when I have had the appt, hopefully this week.
Take care JRVL
Click to expand...
Frenchclass said:
HI JRVL

I was thinking about this last night and I thought the only way to keep levels down during chemo would be injections. I really would hate to go down that route for future chemo treatments, as I do normally stay in control, with metformin. It is the steroids that they give you while on Chemo that up's the levels so high I think.
Good luck with your appointment, just be firm and quietly demand better care.

Regards
Steve
Click to expand...
 
Frenchclass said:
HI JRVL

I was thinking about this last night and I thought the only way to keep levels down during chemo would be injections. I really would hate to go down that route for future chemo treatments, as I do normally stay in control, with metformin. It is the steroids that they give you while on Chemo that up's the levels so high I think.
Good luck with your appointment, just be firm and quietly demand better care.

Regards
Steve
Click to expand...
 
Hi
I saw my diabetic nurse today and she was quite helpful. She looked at my bg records that I took with me and could see that they were high on the days I had chemo and while I was on steroids. Her suggestion is that on those days I take an extra gliclazide 80mg but as I am taking the max metformin 850mg I cannot take more of them. Also when I have my pre-chemo blood test in 2 weeks she has asked them to do an HA1c as well.
I feel much happier now and she has said I can phone her or make an appt if I am worried.
Best wishes
 
Hi Frenchclass, Ladybird and JrVL

Im 22, been a type one diabetic for 20 years now. I always joked and said I couldn't get cancer because I'm already diabetic.. but it seems that I am completely wrong! I had no idea that chemo could have an influence on sugar levels.. I know that stress and hormones have a huge impact on mine.
Gooduck with your treatments and your sugar levels.. and thank you for sharing your stories cause if it happens to me one day I can come back and see how you guys managed it and got through it!

I think you guys are true roll models.
 
Hi Micha
I think it is the steroids that you have to take while on chemo which raises the levels so radically, obviously the stress you feel at the start of the treatment will also add to a rise in sugar levels. My levels are more or less back to normal, but I have my 6 month review for AC1 in a few weeks and also an X-ray to see if my cancer has moved to anywhere else in my body ,which is what happens with Asbestosis.
I do now feel 100% normal and fit, but I still have my feet firmly on the ground as my specialist said I had 18 months to five years form last July. He did say at my last review that swelling on the lining around my lungs caused by cancer had reduced a lot, plus it was the best results he had ever seen, so I am optimistic to get to the five year target. I am sure I will need more chemo sometime as the cancer will spread eventually, so the battle will be to keep my sugar levels down as well during treatment again.

As for role models,to any type 2 person like myself, I take every type one person as a role model as type two on the whole is far more easily managed and the regime is far less strict. How some of you cope with type one I just do not know, but then again we all seem to have inner strength when we need it, just just have to dig really deep sometimes. What keeps me going is that I always see people worse off than myself.
 
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