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Profile picture for Susan, Volunteer Mentor @grammato3

@ronsale: It’s admirable you track your lab results so closely. While I understand concerns about increasing glucose levels to what is generally considered pre-diabetes range, I’m wondering if it’s significant enough to warrant discontinuing treatment at what I imagine is nearly the end of your treatment. Perhaps more frequent monitoring of blood sugars would be considered in the interim?

It’s certainly your choice, however such a decision would probably be worthy of a more in-depth conversation with your medical provider first. Have you had such a conversation to hear their perspective?

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@grammato3 Actually at my last appointment about two weeks ago when I was scheduled to have twentieth infusion in a little over 21 months I had a frank discussion with PA with whom I had the appointment; I also had labs done that day. I made her understand that because it was the first time my fasting glucose was so high and that my A1C went from its prior 5.6 to pre-diabetes level of 5.7. Also, guidelines for Ketruda taken alone as I have been taking it should be taken for one year with a maximum of two years. We agreed that I would not have the twentieth infusion at the time, but that I would get a CT scan done and then decide the next course of action to take after results were in. She agreed to make a later appointment after date of scan. I should also mention that I have never been diagnosed as having pre-diabetes and that there is no history of diabetes that I am aware of on either side of the family. Since Keytruda has the potential of causing diabetes in about 2% of those being treated I am being cautious as to continuing; also, I am concerned of the possibility of getting some other serious condition. It should also be noted that I have severe osteoporosis which precludes me from getting any type of lengthy steroid treatment for any condition that Keytruda may cause. One positive was that the labs done at the time of that appointment showed that glucose level went down to 103 from the 113 done at primary doctor two weeks earlier. It's a difficult decision; the key as of today is what the CT scan shows.