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New to forum. But not new to T2 Diabetes

L

LittleT

Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi everyone, just joined the forum after being type 2 for about 16 years.
I have Stage3 prostate cancer and have found my hormone injections are playing havoc with my diabetes numbers. HbA1C of 74 and spot readings ranging from 12.6 in morning to 6.2 in the evening.
Has anyone else had this issue. All replies welcome.
 
Hi Little T - and {{{Hugs}}} (virtual hugs)

Hormone fluctuations whether by natural causes eg menstruation, pregnancy, menopause or medical treatment eg IVF, HRT or hormone treatment for prostate problems and whether you happen to be male or female - absolutely do cause blood glucose (BG) disruptions. Who/where is overseeing your diabetes treatment - and your prostate cancer?

Seems to me very likely that your diabetes treatment needs extra help for however long the hormones affect your BG. Depends what the plan for that treatment is - to shrink the tumour to make it operable so just for a limited and defined amount of time - or what?
 
Hi Trophy Wench, virtual hugs to you too.
Unfortunately the prostate couldn’t be operated on as it was too far advanced so the hormone treatment with 20 rounds of radiotherapy is the only option. The oncologist told me that he was very reluctant to reduce or alter the hormones treatment.
My diabetes and managed at my local doctors by a diabetic nurse. I don’t think she understands the issue. She gave me sitagliptin but that sent me into a downward spiral, joint and muscle pain, unable to think straight. I am waiting for new knees and the hormone therapy has worsened my arthritis.
I have stopped taking the sitagliptin and the pain has reduced and I am thinking better. Haven’t told her yet. Her answer will be insulin. Thanks for the quick reply. Take care
 
Welcome to the forum @LittleT

Sorry to hear you are battling prostate cancer. Everything crossed for a successful outcome for you.

Illness and injury can make blood glucose much trickier to manage. Do you think it might be worth asking if you could temporarily move onto insulin (in the same way that some Mum’s to be use insulin during gestational diabetes)?

I think keeping glucose levels closer to the target range can help with speeding recovery?
 
Thanks Everydayupsanddowns,
I will see the diabetic nurse asap and suggest this. I am on hormone therapy for the next 2.5 years that’s if at all, so might have to treat my T2 more like T1 until I can get off the hormone therapy. Thanks again
 
Well - fraid you won't like me saying this but - I was also thinking of insulin too.

What the hell would be the point in the NHS saving you dying from prostate cancer if you then let fear of another lifesaver kill you anyway?

Not even this Type 1 wanted to spend the rest of my life sticking needles in myself - but Hey - it keeps me alive so just gotta do it. <3 🙂
 
I had already come to this conclusion but the diabetic nurse wanted to try tablets first. I’ve tried them and they made things worse, without any appreciable improvement. I would rather be supported properly as I have by the oncology team. I have tried to tell them that I am insulin resistance but they know best. As you say it cost a lot to stop the cancer so let’s try to improve the rest of my life.
 
LittleT said:
I had already come to this conclusion but the diabetic nurse wanted to try tablets first. I’ve tried them and they made things worse, without any appreciable improvement. I would rather be supported properly as I have by the oncology team. I have tried to tell them that I am insulin resistance but they know best. As you say it cost a lot to stop the cancer so let’s try to improve the rest of my life.
Click to expand...
Have you been trying anything diet wise as well as the metformin as that will only help a small amount and reduction in carb intake is usually needed as well.
 
We have what I would call a healthy diet with home cooked foods, small portions, mainly vegetables and very little carbs.
Unfortunately the hormone treatment will put weight on but we have managed to keep my weight tha same ou drop slightly. My relationship with my medications is not good as I react adversely to many different meds. Thanks for your advice though.
 
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