Diabetes and cancer
Diabetes is common in cancer patients. Approximately 8% to 18% of cancer patients also have diabetes. Both diseases together pose many challenges to patients and their oncologists.
In fact, diabetes type 2 is associated with increased risk of pancreatic cancer. Diabetes may be associated with risk of other cancers. A study from South Korea published in 2005 in JAMA showed that elevated fasting blood glucose is related to higher risk of cancer.
A patient with diabetes should pay particular attention to adequate control of their blood sugar during chemotherapy:
- chemotherapy often can cause significant fluctuations of blood glucose.
A steroid (Dexamethasone or Decadron) is commonly used to preventing nausea for patients receiving chemotherapy.
- The steroid can cause elevation of blood glucose.
- Some patients may require insulin during chemotherapy to make sure blood sugar is adequately controlled.
- A close monitoring of blood sugar is required.
Steroid is often part of a chemotherapy regimen for lymphoma patients.
Good control of blood glucose is very important. Many drugs are used for treating diabetes including Iinsulin, Metformin, and others.
There is evidence that Metformin may help chemotherapy to work better in women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy before surgery (called neoadjuvant chemotherapy).
Patients with diabetes who are on drug treatment are also at risk of developing low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) related to inadequate nutrition because of nausea or vomiting or poor appetite during chemotherapy. Drinking plenty of fluids is also important.
