Chemo-induced diabetes? Common?

[Tab]

I just got done with post-surgery chemo, and PET scans and CT scans show me cancer free, but at the end I developed diabetes. We think this was a result of the chemo, which uses steroids, which raise sugar levels, combined with pre-halloween candy eating and fruit juice drinking (I rarely eat candy, but had incredible cravings this year, plus cravings for fruit juice). It sent my sugar levels over the wall (650(!)). Having cut the chemo - and now having stopped it altogether - I'm at more reasonable levels, anywhere from 90 to 150.

Is this common, though? Anyone else have chemo-induced diabetes?

- Tab

[Contrary1]

1. I was diagnosed with Type 2 about 4 years after my chemo...

I knew something was wrong several months before that. So, while I can't say for sure if it was chemo-induced or not; I was the only person with diabetes in my family for several years. A first cousin, who is also a cancer survivor now has it. But she did not undergo chemo.

I started putting on weight during my treatment, which included 5 years of Tamoxifen. Probably 30 pounds total. My doctor put me on a thyroid med, which I believe has helped me drop the pounds.

Along with diabetes, I have glaucoma, cataracts, and nail fungus. Many in my online breast cancer support group have developed one or more of these same conditions since chemo. I don't think it's a coincidence.

[arthritisR_US]

2. not unheard of that's for sure. Chemo will bring to life any weaknesses in the body and

in this case it's the pancreas. The steroids (usually Prednisone) play havoc as well. For me it really triggered hypoglycemia and a heart condition which netted me 20 heart attacks a day (on a good day) until I had open heart.

Diabetes is one of the easiest conditions to trigger, it happens even in pregnancy I.e., gestational diabetes...sounds to me like you are on the right track for treating it :-)

[Redbear]

3. I had diabetes before cancer, but chemo raised my sugar levels

significantly.