glucose level- just wondering

have2believe
have2believe Member Posts: 134
in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hi,
My mom just had a pet done...the last PET was in Nov 2009, and in between we've only had CT scans every 3 months. In seeing that they look at blood sugar, have any of you looked into any research between correlation between glucose level and survival? While we have a healthy diet, we are Asian and eat a lot of rice. I noticed that while my mom's glucose level is normal, it's in the higher end.

Have any of you cognizantly reduced your intake of foods like rice and pasta to see if it made any difference in treatment results, etc? I'm not trying to spur the debate of sugar, but was curious if it's any use in trying to lower the glucose level to more mid-range..like substituting quinoa for rice every other day. My mom's had a chemo break since mid-Nov 2011, and I hope the scan results will allow us to remain so.

Just wondering/ thinking out loud.

Thanks.

Comments

  • karguy
    karguy Member Posts: 1,020 Member
    #2
    Blood sugar
    Two years after my surgery,I was dx as diabetic.To lower my blood sugar I had to switch to brown rice,and all grain noodles.Good carbs like fresh fruit,and vegitables help also.If you get on the diabetes website there are alot of recipes,and information to lower blood sugar,and you don't have to be diabetic.Your substituting quinoa is there also.Good luck.
  • pete43lost_at_sea
    pete43lost_at_sea Member Posts: 3,900 Member
    #3
    yes i do
    just google life extension and glucose.
    if have been monitoring my fasting glucose levels most mornings since my cea started rising.
    at least i will no if my pancreas has an issue.

    even last year i posted about leveraging treatments from diabetes to help with neuropathy from our beloved folfox.

    heaps you can do to lower glucose, i am doing most, its a part of the raw green diet with a touch of protein.

    hugs,
    Pete
  • gfpiv
    gfpiv Member Posts: 59 Member
    #4
    Sugar/Glucose/Insulin
    I'm a big proponent of controlling blood sugar (and the resulting IGF-1 insulin growth factor spikes) for those of us with cancer. Cancer cells have about 16 times the glucose receptors as regular cells - which the the basis for how a PET scan works. I personally have cut way down on soda, baked goods, potatoes and rice due to high glycemic load. However, when taken in small enough portions together with rich sources of fiber (e.g. veggies, nuts and lean protein), you can reduce the rate of digestion and therefore the spikes. Some kinds of rice even have a relatively mid-level glycemic index/load (e.g. wild and basmati).

    Of course I can't be sure my diet changes have helped at all, but between that, exercise, supplements and chemo, I've had good luck in keeping my extensive cancer in check so far, so who knows.

    Anyway, here's a link with a good explanation of the theory behind cancer and controlling blood sugar:

    http://www.caring4cancer.com/go/cancer/nutrition/questions/sugar-and-cancer-is-there-a-connection.htm?ManualDynamicTierKeyword=colorectal

    Best of luck,
    Chip
  • peterz54
    peterz54 Member Posts: 341
    #5
    Glucose levels and survival
    If you look into the research you will find that there is no debate. elevated, or even high normal, glucose is not something you want. use Google Scholar and do your own research to confirm. If you have very little data for your mother then suggest getting more so you can establish a trend. and get her into low normal range. IGF-1 is another parameter you should keep normal, but if you eat a healthy diet, which means not too much protein, especially of animal origin, then your mother should be ok there. but IGF-1 is an inexpensive test and worth the cost.

    plenty of good info about healthy plant based diets which will lower glucose, among other things, if you search it out. you might check out the diet book by Kris Carr, who is living with cancer for ten years and developed a reality based (evidence based) life style which appears to have done wonders for her health. Joel Furman MD & Neal Barnard MD have been involved in diet and health issues for many years and have published good books on the subject.
  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    #6
    peterz54 said:

    Glucose levels and survival
    If you look into the research you will find that there is no debate. elevated, or even high normal, glucose is not something you want. use Google Scholar and do your own research to confirm. If you have very little data for your mother then suggest getting more so you can establish a trend. and get her into low normal range. IGF-1 is another parameter you should keep normal, but if you eat a healthy diet, which means not too much protein, especially of animal origin, then your mother should be ok there. but IGF-1 is an inexpensive test and worth the cost.

    plenty of good info about healthy plant based diets which will lower glucose, among other things, if you search it out. you might check out the diet book by Kris Carr, who is living with cancer for ten years and developed a reality based (evidence based) life style which appears to have done wonders for her health. Joel Furman MD & Neal Barnard MD have been involved in diet and health issues for many years and have published good books on the subject.

    It makes me wonder........

    How many are "out there", that are surviving cancer for ten or
    more years and have not changed a thing about their diet, glucose
    or otherwise.....

    Of course, we certainly do hear from all those who sell books
    and products, and from all those who make a living selling their
    great stories about "what has saved my life".

    Cancer steals glucose from good cells; starve our body of
    glucose, and all we'll do is starve our good cells.

    Sometimes, life really is that simple.

    Best of health,

    John
  • peterz54
    peterz54 Member Posts: 341
    #7
    John23 said:

    It makes me wonder........

    How many are "out there", that are surviving cancer for ten or
    more years and have not changed a thing about their diet, glucose
    or otherwise.....

    Of course, we certainly do hear from all those who sell books
    and products, and from all those who make a living selling their
    great stories about "what has saved my life".

    Cancer steals glucose from good cells; starve our body of
    glucose, and all we'll do is starve our good cells.

    Sometimes, life really is that simple.

    Best of health,

    John

    and sometimes
    and sometimes it's as simple as looking at the facts, which is why I mentioned looking at the studies, relying on solid research. "common" sense is not something to cling to in times like this...the last thing any of us need are opinions with nothing to back it up...

    the notion that we, the typical american, don't need to change anything is dangerous, irresponsible. it's akin to claiming that smoking os OK cause millions of smokers live to a ripe old age.

    it's also true that many people (including MDs and PhDs) have a vested interest ($$$) in books, etc, based on half baked ideas. again, do the research - vet the author's. etc. and use the NIH library of medicine, either through google or pubmed to research claims.
  • pete43lost_at_sea
    pete43lost_at_sea Member Posts: 3,900 Member
    #8
    peterz54 said:

    and sometimes
    and sometimes it's as simple as looking at the facts, which is why I mentioned looking at the studies, relying on solid research. "common" sense is not something to cling to in times like this...the last thing any of us need are opinions with nothing to back it up...

    the notion that we, the typical american, don't need to change anything is dangerous, irresponsible. it's akin to claiming that smoking os OK cause millions of smokers live to a ripe old age.

    it's also true that many people (including MDs and PhDs) have a vested interest ($$$) in books, etc, based on half baked ideas. again, do the research - vet the author's. etc. and use the NIH library of medicine, either through google or pubmed to research claims.

    pete, john and chip
    what i have read and listened to at lectures, well simply put

    sugar = drug

    it screws with your brains receptors. its covered nicely in molecules of emotion by candice pert. or read the glucose stuff on lef.

    in my family we all live quiet well without coke, fanta and all the crap from western diet.
    i would not give my kids heron, and i want give them sugar. they get enough of it at parties and when we go out.

    the simplest fact of all is some of us make it and some don't. we are free to do what we want, when we want for as long as we live.

    i just believe how we live today ( includes what we eat ) has a direct impact on our end date.

    we have discussed on this forum about diet, lifestyle and disease.

    assuming diet plays no role in health, then just reply on your chemo, or your chinese herbs and go to macdonalds or wherever. enjoy your treats and leave the healthy diet club alone.

    our free will is the best gift of life.
    we have had the bible for 2000 years, its got some nice commandments and look at our societies. a big mess.

    now we have lots of new science, about genetics, diet, about cancer and our treatments are still in the dark ages. today i got my genetic test results, amazingly complex. i will post about these separately when i decifier them. the test is about genes and diet and lifestyle.

    we have genes for taste, fat metabolism, detox, inflamation. what are you ? how do you respond to different foods ? i am starting to learn the answers to these questions.

    if a majority of cancer patients want to accept the status quo, then thats their right. if a few cancer patients want to push the system to its limits to survive then that also pretty fair in my books.

    the vested interests are enormous, if something makes you well then great, its that simple.
    like i have had an amzing result with gut detox and progurt.

    if you want more health, then you better chase it, chances are mr health aint going to knock down your door while your eating macdonalds on the couch watching tv.

    hugs,
    pete

    ps pubmed is great, but lately i have been putting pressure on suppliers and doctors to provide proof and links.

    pps so my fasting glucose is sometimes at 7.1 . just too high for comfort given my diet. something is going on and i don't know what. some problem, somewhere but for the time being i am focusing on liver detox and chelation.
  • peterz54
    peterz54 Member Posts: 341
    #9
    pete43lost_at_sea said:

    pete, john and chip
    what i have read and listened to at lectures, well simply put

    sugar = drug

    it screws with your brains receptors. its covered nicely in molecules of emotion by candice pert. or read the glucose stuff on lef.

    in my family we all live quiet well without coke, fanta and all the crap from western diet.
    i would not give my kids heron, and i want give them sugar. they get enough of it at parties and when we go out.

    the simplest fact of all is some of us make it and some don't. we are free to do what we want, when we want for as long as we live.

    i just believe how we live today ( includes what we eat ) has a direct impact on our end date.

    we have discussed on this forum about diet, lifestyle and disease.

    assuming diet plays no role in health, then just reply on your chemo, or your chinese herbs and go to macdonalds or wherever. enjoy your treats and leave the healthy diet club alone.

    our free will is the best gift of life.
    we have had the bible for 2000 years, its got some nice commandments and look at our societies. a big mess.

    now we have lots of new science, about genetics, diet, about cancer and our treatments are still in the dark ages. today i got my genetic test results, amazingly complex. i will post about these separately when i decifier them. the test is about genes and diet and lifestyle.

    we have genes for taste, fat metabolism, detox, inflamation. what are you ? how do you respond to different foods ? i am starting to learn the answers to these questions.

    if a majority of cancer patients want to accept the status quo, then thats their right. if a few cancer patients want to push the system to its limits to survive then that also pretty fair in my books.

    the vested interests are enormous, if something makes you well then great, its that simple.
    like i have had an amzing result with gut detox and progurt.

    if you want more health, then you better chase it, chances are mr health aint going to knock down your door while your eating macdonalds on the couch watching tv.

    hugs,
    pete

    ps pubmed is great, but lately i have been putting pressure on suppliers and doctors to provide proof and links.

    pps so my fasting glucose is sometimes at 7.1 . just too high for comfort given my diet. something is going on and i don't know what. some problem, somewhere but for the time being i am focusing on liver detox and chelation.

    ps
    pete I agree about your ps. I am surprised at how much tooth pulling I have to do to get good specific information about what my wife and I can for her illness which goes beyond the standard treatment and generalities.
  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    #10
    peterz54 said:

    and sometimes
    and sometimes it's as simple as looking at the facts, which is why I mentioned looking at the studies, relying on solid research. "common" sense is not something to cling to in times like this...the last thing any of us need are opinions with nothing to back it up...

    the notion that we, the typical american, don't need to change anything is dangerous, irresponsible. it's akin to claiming that smoking os OK cause millions of smokers live to a ripe old age.

    it's also true that many people (including MDs and PhDs) have a vested interest ($$$) in books, etc, based on half baked ideas. again, do the research - vet the author's. etc. and use the NIH library of medicine, either through google or pubmed to research claims.

    peterz54 -

    With all respect.....

    Re:
    ""common" sense is not something to cling to in times like this..."

    The biggest problem in this world, is the lack of use of one's common sense.

    We have the "industry's" convincing arguments that natural sugar
    is a poison, while they go about promoting sugar substitutes that
    force your body and brain into thinking it's getting more glucose
    than it actually is. Can anyone with a clear mind, actually think that
    mother nature can be fooled without paying a penalty?

    Read research on diabetes, and how enhanced sweeteners might
    be the largest contributing factor to the malady. How long can
    the pancreas be overworked or stifled, without eventually failing
    to do it's naturally intended job in the manner intended?

    A well-rounded diet of natural foods and not living in excess
    is a better direction for good health, than attempting to substitute
    factory lab products for what's natural to our basic being.

    That...... is "common sense".

    My best wishes for continued good health, regardless of diet.

    John
  • pete43lost_at_sea
    pete43lost_at_sea Member Posts: 3,900 Member
    #11
    peterz54 said:

    ps
    pete I agree about your ps. I am surprised at how much tooth pulling I have to do to get good specific information about what my wife and I can for her illness which goes beyond the standard treatment and generalities.

    exercise also moderates insulin levels i think
    that was a great sugar article, right to the point.

    i had a piece of cake the other night. lucky we can have the occaisional treat.

    cutting out all the bs once and for all about sugar.
    its minimising the insulin thats key as i read it.

    i try to do this, pretty well. it just takes will power and desperation.

    the trick is to pull the teeth without then realising.

    its sad but i find most doctors overwhelmed by clinical issues and not up on research. so i would not expect good info anymore from onc and surgeon. they a good at their role and that is it. they cannot teach me to meditate, or what to eat or what supplements to try or even how to brew my tcm herbs.

    they can cut me up very well, and chemo and fry my butt to pieces.
    once was enough for that routine.

    hugs,
    pete

    ps i have learned more here than from the doctors.
  • peterz54
    peterz54 Member Posts: 341
    #12
    John23 said:

    peterz54 -

    With all respect.....

    Re:
    ""common" sense is not something to cling to in times like this..."

    The biggest problem in this world, is the lack of use of one's common sense.

    We have the "industry's" convincing arguments that natural sugar
    is a poison, while they go about promoting sugar substitutes that
    force your body and brain into thinking it's getting more glucose
    than it actually is. Can anyone with a clear mind, actually think that
    mother nature can be fooled without paying a penalty?

    Read research on diabetes, and how enhanced sweeteners might
    be the largest contributing factor to the malady. How long can
    the pancreas be overworked or stifled, without eventually failing
    to do it's naturally intended job in the manner intended?

    A well-rounded diet of natural foods and not living in excess
    is a better direction for good health, than attempting to substitute
    factory lab products for what's natural to our basic being.

    That...... is "common sense".

    My best wishes for continued good health, regardless of diet.

    John

    mmmm
    John, I wasn't taking the position you seem to be implying, nor was I discussing sugar substitutes or being an industry shill....just mainly advocating relying on solid research, and doing one's own research with the tools available. and pointing out that elevated glucose and too much protein are drivers of cancer, per the research.

    elevated glucose indicates shorter survival times for those with terminal cancers.

    taking suggestions from people like those (like me) on this board may be OK as a starting point, to get ideas, but make sure it is validated.

    btw, mother nature, which gives us many of our ills, is quite often fooled...

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