Anyone develop diabetes after chemo?

Posted by s6819103 @s6819103, Sep 24 3:37pm

My dad is 3 months out of chemo and was scheduled for surgrey. Now is blood sugar levels are very high and they canceled surgrey. He was never diabetic before. Anyone become diabetic after?

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peabodysmom | @peabodysmom | Sep 25 9:49am

Yes,I developed type 1 during Chemo and immunotherapy. Was told most likely from the immunotherapy.

kopper | @kopper | Sep 25 10:59am

I am currently finishing my last immunotherapy treatment (13 Opdivo/Nivolumab treatments) and have always had lower blood sugar levels, but over the last year I have had a few blood tests that have shown slightly elevated blood sugar levels.

davidwrenn | @davidwrenn | Sep 25 11:48am

Yes, it's a common complication associated with various chemo and immunotherapy regimens as well as the use of steroids to manage inflammation and immunosupression. The causes of the development of diabetes in treated cancer patients is multifactorial, but generally is associated with chemo/immuno therapies increasing peripheral insulin resistance. As people age their peripheral insulin sensitivity tends to be reduced. As such their fasting and post prandial glucose levels (FPG, PPG) tend to be elevated at times in the pre-diabetic range > 125-130 mg/dl. Chemo/immuno/steroid therapies may exacerbate/increase FPG/PPG via various mechanisms including impaired functioning of endothelial cell's glucose transporter, beta cell stress etc.

In many cases it can be managed with metformin or, in more severe cases, insulin may be required.