High blood sugar

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delnative
delnative Member Posts: 450
edited March 2014 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Can anyone shed any light on this?
A bit of background. Before cancer I had packed on the weight by eating/drinking too much and exercising too little. (Little did I know that excess weight would soon be a good thing!) I weighed over 190 pounds when I should have been more like 160.
After I had my first of three rounds of Cisplatin, my bloodwork showed that my sugar was well into diabetic level. They surmised it was due to the steroid they'd jacked me up with. They discontinued the steroid and my blood sugar fell back into acceptable range. My other two rounds of Cisplatin, sans steroids, went fine.
Fast forward to post-treatment recuperation. I'd gotten down to about 150 pounds and was looking pretty gaunt. To put on weight I ate a lot of Haagen Dasz. (Hey, it's high in calories and easy on the throat.) I had some routine bloodwork done and my sugar was up into what they call the "prediabetic" range. Doc said, "Lay off the sweet stuff!" Not only did I do that, I changed my diet so I'm living about as low on the glycemic index as one can go.
Six months of clean living go by. I have more routine bloodwork and STILL my sugar is in prediabetic range.
So I decided to hit it with both barrels blazing. I bought an exercise bike and ride that sucker every night. I'm now down to 162 pounds (from about 174 when the last test was taken). I'm hoping my next bloodwork will show my sugar is where it ought to be, because now I've done pretty much everything that a guy can do short of medication.
Which is a long way of getting to my question: Has anyone heard of high blood sugar being a byproduct of Cisplatin, radiation or a combination of the two? I've done a number of Google searches on this topic and found little of value.
Thanks, all.

--Jim in Delaware

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  • Dragons7-7-2010
    Dragons7-7-2010 Member Posts: 79
    #2
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    don't have answers but
    I don't have answers but I am seeing my endocrinologist next week and will ask him that question. i was pre-diabetic before cancer and now sugar levels are find but I'd hate to be pre-diabetic again.

    Praying for a solution but who knows what the trade offs we may experience from the side effects chemo / radiation versus the benefit of being alive

    Keep us posted if you find anything out and I will post if my endocrinoogist has any information on cisplatin / radiation etc affecting blood sugar levels.

    ~ Eileen in Texas
    PS formerly a resident of Newark Delaware - GO BLUE HENS! Class of 1992
  • Dragons7-7-2010
    Dragons7-7-2010 Member Posts: 79
    #3
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    don't have answers but
    I don't have answers but I am seeing my endocrinologist next week and will ask him that question. i was pre-diabetic before cancer and now sugar levels are find but I'd hate to be pre-diabetic again.

    Praying for a solution but who knows what the trade offs we may experience from the side effects chemo / radiation versus the benefit of being alive

    Keep us posted if you find anything out and I will post if my endocrinoogist has any information on cisplatin / radiation etc affecting blood sugar levels.

    ~ Eileen in Texas
    PS formerly a resident of Newark Delaware - GO BLUE HENS! Class of 1992
  • bettvan16
    bettvan16 Member Posts: 14
    #4
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    High Blood Sugar
    My husband Elmer was never a diabetic until he completed radiation and Cisplatin. His medical doctor said that was the cause. He was tube fed all the while and he started on Jevity but then they changed it to Glucerna (sugar free). This did not change his high blood sugar level and he hated me sticking him three times a day. With the outcome he had, I wish the high blood sugar problem never happened. Of course, everything that happened in the 11 months and 21 days he suffered with the cancer I wish never happened. 15 months later it still seems like a nightmare. Best of luck to you Jim and I hope and pray they get your problem resolved. Betty in Missouri
  • DrMary
    DrMary Member Posts: 531 Member
    #5
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    bettvan16 said:

    High Blood Sugar
    My husband Elmer was never a diabetic until he completed radiation and Cisplatin. His medical doctor said that was the cause. He was tube fed all the while and he started on Jevity but then they changed it to Glucerna (sugar free). This did not change his high blood sugar level and he hated me sticking him three times a day. With the outcome he had, I wish the high blood sugar problem never happened. Of course, everything that happened in the 11 months and 21 days he suffered with the cancer I wish never happened. 15 months later it still seems like a nightmare. Best of luck to you Jim and I hope and pray they get your problem resolved. Betty in Missouri

    collect some data
    Blood sugar test kits are cheap now - I picked one up a year ago when my blood sugar showed up high (I was in a clinic getting experimental foot surgery, so they were testing my blood often). I had suspected that it had to do with the fact that I was eating oddly, as I was throwing up all the time from the experimental pain killer. Indeed, my own tests showed that I quickly went back to normal when my diet did.

    Anyway, the entire kit - digital meter and a week of strips - was about $12, and more strips were also cheap. I'd suggest, if you can stand it, that you test both fasting and specific intervals after eating (such as 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours). That's one day of tests - then test at the same time (such as before breakfast) every day for a few weeks. For one thing, you may find out that the exercise is working. If not, you'll have some useful data to show your doctor - swings, spikes, lows, etc. can mean something.

    About your question - I found nothing about cisplatin causing blood sugar issues, but I tested Doug's levels for about a week once he started eating again, as he'd gone weeks without eating and the doctors were using the phrase "refeeding syndrome" - we followed the refeeding protocol and slowly increased his calories, while monitoring his blood sugar. It was up there during the first week or so and then stabilized at normal levels; the stuff I read did seem to indicate that blood sugar levels could be an issue for months after a period of starvation.

    Keep us posted and hope it turns out to be fine.
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #6
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    Similar Reaction
    Jim I had most of the same treatment as you, steroids during round two of Cisplatin also raised my blood sugar. It was right around 106 before any treatment, then went to 135 I think after the steroids. Like you, I wasn't to a point that I had to have the steroids and stopped them after that round of chemo, blood sugar dropped back to just over 100..

    I've been struggling with blood sugar also for the last year plus post treatment. I'm at 113 as of a few weeks ago.

    I also have gained weight back post treatment, and was heavy going into treatment, minimal exercise. I have started the same mode as you, eating better, getting some exercise, etc... trying to stay ahead of the game.

    My blood pressure is still a little wacked out since trying the Synthroid a few weeks ago. Not sure if the Synthroid is still the issue, though I know that weight loss, exercise and better eating habits will also benefit the blood pressure.

    Best,
    John
  • buzz99
    buzz99 Member Posts: 404
    #7
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    Blood sugar
    One of the causes of a rise in blood sugar is stress! Stress causes the release of hormones (such as cortisol) which raises blood sugar. Buzz's blood sugar has been as high as 170. It is still a bit elevated. The dietitian told me she does not worry unless it is consistently over 180. The tube feeding is certainly a factor.
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #8
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    buzz99 said:

    Blood sugar
    One of the causes of a rise in blood sugar is stress! Stress causes the release of hormones (such as cortisol) which raises blood sugar. Buzz's blood sugar has been as high as 170. It is still a bit elevated. The dietitian told me she does not worry unless it is consistently over 180. The tube feeding is certainly a factor.

    Stress
    Hmmmf, who among us ever has stress....LOL

    JG
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #9
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    Skiffin16 said:

    Stress
    Hmmmf, who among us ever has stress....LOL

    JG

    Stresssssssssss
    Not Me !!!! or maybe could be....
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #10
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    Dragons7-7-2010 said:

    don't have answers but
    I don't have answers but I am seeing my endocrinologist next week and will ask him that question. i was pre-diabetic before cancer and now sugar levels are find but I'd hate to be pre-diabetic again.

    Praying for a solution but who knows what the trade offs we may experience from the side effects chemo / radiation versus the benefit of being alive

    Keep us posted if you find anything out and I will post if my endocrinoogist has any information on cisplatin / radiation etc affecting blood sugar levels.

    ~ Eileen in Texas
    PS formerly a resident of Newark Delaware - GO BLUE HENS! Class of 1992

    Hi Jim
    I have been feeling a little wired lately and think I will get my blood sugar checked as this maybe just one of my many little problems.

    Thanks for the tip my friend
    Hondo
  • ratface
    ratface Member Posts: 1,337 Member
    #11
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    Hondo said:

    Stresssssssssss
    Not Me !!!! or maybe could be....

    Glucose, Ser/Plasma--same thing?
    You made me pull out my bloodwork numbers. Closest thing to Blood sugar is Glucose,Ser/Plasma? If so my first number 10 months post was 77, then 14 months post, 96, then 18 months post 98. I'll keep an eye on it. Good luck with your Quest and exercise can't hurt too much.
  • DrMary
    DrMary Member Posts: 531 Member
    #12
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    ratface said:

    Glucose, Ser/Plasma--same thing?
    You made me pull out my bloodwork numbers. Closest thing to Blood sugar is Glucose,Ser/Plasma? If so my first number 10 months post was 77, then 14 months post, 96, then 18 months post 98. I'll keep an eye on it. Good luck with your Quest and exercise can't hurt too much.

    Those numbers sound low
    Normal whole blood glucose levels (fasting) should be between 90 and 130 mg/dL and serum glucose levels should be about 15% higher than that (about 105 to 150). However, if your doctor wasn't worried, I wouldn't be - especially since it sounds like you are close to normal levels now.
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #13
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    DrMary said:

    Those numbers sound low
    Normal whole blood glucose levels (fasting) should be between 90 and 130 mg/dL and serum glucose levels should be about 15% higher than that (about 105 to 150). However, if your doctor wasn't worried, I wouldn't be - especially since it sounds like you are close to normal levels now.

    Blood Glucose Normal Range
    Actually the normal ranges for Blood Glucose that I have been given by my medical provider read;

    Normal fasting blood glucose range for adults: 70 - 99 (mg/dl).

    A fasting blood sugar level of 100 - 125 mg/dl is called "impaired fasting glucose" or prediabetes.

    A level of 126 mg/dl or higher can mean you have diabetes.

    JG
  • DrMary
    DrMary Member Posts: 531 Member
    #14
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    Skiffin16 said:

    Blood Glucose Normal Range
    Actually the normal ranges for Blood Glucose that I have been given by my medical provider read;

    Normal fasting blood glucose range for adults: 70 - 99 (mg/dl).

    A fasting blood sugar level of 100 - 125 mg/dl is called "impaired fasting glucose" or prediabetes.

    A level of 126 mg/dl or higher can mean you have diabetes.

    JG

    Depends on the test - was not clear about that
    It does depend on the test - those were from one of my home test flyers, I think. If you are getting the test done by a clinic, the printout should say what the normal values are. Whole blood numbers are different from serum numbers, which also should be noted on the results. Lastly, "fasting" numbers are usually for real fasts 8 hours, rather than >2 hours after a meal, which is one of the options in my test kit.

    Depending on the test, those numbers could be low, high, or normal.

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