Managing Breast Cancer and Diabetes

I cannot find anything in the Herceptin literature about this but I know many strong cancer drugs can affect blood sugars. Can you tell me more about what is happening with your diabetes? Have you talked to your endocrinologist about this?

@cgirl0721, did you have diabetes before breast cancer? Type 1 or type 2?

What challenges are you facing with diabetes and Herceptin treatment?

Type 2 - controlled no insulin but using pills; extreme highs and lows; difficulty stabilizing and some kidney decreases below normal.

My brother had to take insulin while he was on strong chemo for 4 months then returned to his normal controls when he was done. Those extreme highs and lows are dangerous, especially when your system is being taxed already by herceptin. Please talk to whatever doctor you normally see about your diabetes to get this under control, it might only have to be temporary, but during herceptin your body needs all the love you can give it. Do you normally see an endocrinologist for your diabetes?

Can you get on an insulin pump and Continuous Glucose Monitor? Have you tried a low carb diet and regular exercise (however mild) at the same time each day, and a regular eating schedule? Most of all, does your oncologist talk to your endocrinologist? It seems doctors never do that but it would be helpful. They each probably don't know much about the other's specialty! So sorry you are dealing with this.

Type 2, T2D medicine metformin - Cancer drugs herceptin and arimidex.

Yes but need integration across the illnesses - cancer, diabetes, now with these drugs - kidney function decrease starting.

You might have to really not be afraid to fight for what you need here. If your doctors are all within the same system it should be pretty simple for them to coordinate. A little more involved if they aren’t but still doable. Have you contacted your doctor yet?

That's one of the problems. The doctors are not talking to each other. Go to one and they do something, numbers go out of control, go to the other he does something numbers go out of control and they are not listening. Starting to look for a suite of doctors who will work together and communicate. It's been frustrating.

Yes a series of meetings all week, working my way to the various doctors. The problem is one set of numbers says things are okay and the other not, so trying to work through it all.