Diabetes

[Cathy]

Well, it seems Jonathan now has to inject himself with insulin 3 times a day. This is on top of his daily clexane (anti coagulent) injections and bone marrow injections (granted only for 4 days per 2 weeks) - both of which I give him.

To say he is fed up is an understatement. I am too and feel so sorry for him. I just so wish I could take some of this nonsense for him and give him a break.

I'm hoping that once he is off steroids from this cycle it all goes back to normal. He didn't have a problem (that we are aware of but no idea when he last had his blood sugar tested) before treatment started. I just hope and pray it isn't heralding something more ominous.

Does anyone else on here need to take insulin injections?

Cathy xx

[J_T]

Hi Cathy, sorry to hear this news.

I can well imagine just how fed up Jonathan is, I've got one here who is still pooped today when normally he would be okay. As an aside, Ray woke up feeling very dry and has drunk quite a bit of fluid today although it seems to have subsided a bit now. I'll definitely be asking for that blood test tomorrow. (his mother was a diabetic)

we're wondering about having the extra steroids for the next cycle as we don't know whether its those that have prolonged the fatigue - you can't win!

Chin up Cathy (and Jonathan), onwards and upwards! (its hard I know!)

Julia x

[Cathy]

Thanks Julia,

Aww - I feel a bit more cheered up now.

Yes, it would definitely be worth making sure it's checked and it can be done so easily and quickly (oh, and I've been told that apparently chemists can do it as well?).

Hope Ray perks up soon as well.

Love to you both

Cathy xx

[karen17]

One of the main functions of the pancreas is to produce insulin so I guess that anyone with pancreatic cancer is going to be more at risk of diabetes as obviously the pancreas is not functioning as it should be. Try not to worry Cathy and Julia, just keep getting those blood sugars checked.

Karen

[Bee]

Hi Cathy and Julia,

Sounds like neither of you has had the best of days, but tomorrow is a new day so fingers crossed a better day will dawn x

[LindaH]

Hi

If you mean the steriods Dexamethasone which are needed after having a Chemo session, well yes, they make my blood sugar levels soar sky high. I take my blood sugar levels four times a day, most are not too bad during the day, but as I took my last one last night - Tuesday 3rd the level was 21.9.....far too high, so I had another 6 unit shot of insulin.

I only take the steriods for three days after Chemo and after my three days, the BSL seem to settle down.

Maybe it would be an idea to have a chat with the diabetic nurse at either your hospital or clinic.

It's an absolute pain....I know...having to keep monitoring levels and it does worry me if I'm doing it correctly especially by taking an extra unit if needed, but at bedtime when this seems to happen, it's the only thing I can think of to do.

Good luck with all you're going through.

Linda x

[Cathy]

Hi there everyone

Thank you for the replies. By the time I got home last night Jonathan had already done his first injection and had perked up somewhat as he realised it wasn't so bad and we did the live chat on here. His worry is now just remembering to do everything as he now has 4 injections per day plus a variety of pills to be taken at various points. Thank heavens for post it notes

It's just so DISAPOINTING! No idea how long he's had a problem for but we are sure his blood sugar was normal before treatement started, he seems to have reponded well to the folfironox, his tumour markers are 90% less and he was told he is stable so why develop diabetes now? I still hope it is just the steroids - his oncologist remarked he seemed ultra sensitive to them (as he's lost muscle definition in his arms and legs). I hope it's just that.

Linda - have now just read your post. Do you take insulin generally for your condition or is this just as a result of steroids do you think? I am now thinking maybe suggesting we try ditching them either entirely or at a much lower level given sickness hasn't been an issue for us at all.

Anyhow, next scan result is the 10th (gulp).

Have a good day everyone - I hope you all have the sun as I do.

Cathyxx

[J_T]

Hi so pleased that Jonathan has perked up! Those live chats are very useful.

We've had to arrange for the district nurse to come and do Rays bloods as he felt he didnt have the energy to get to the surgery.

I use the alarm on my mobile for all Ray's meds! Its an audible reminder for the feeble minded, ie me!

Glorious day here too.

Have a good day everyone

Julia x

[Cathy]

Hiya

They are indeed. Jonathan was pleased with the information he got re diabetes and we had a bit of a giggle as well (not sure how much I should put but it involved an enthusiastic post about palmers body lotion LOL)

Hope blood tests are ok - let us know how you get on.

xx

[PCUK Nurse Dianne]

Thanks Ladies,

Great to hear positive remarks about the Live Chat. Certainly these are really good for having that 'real time' chat, and for those unitiated, please do feel free to look at the live chat option. This involves using your forum password and logging in to the 'live chat' on the night. This then allows you to have real time email dialogue with the other participants and also ask questions of the team, usually a moderator and specialist PCUK nurse.

Dianne

Support Team

[laura]

hi everyone---diabetes!!!! thought some might find this reassuring, bri's diabetes has reared its head, this was one of the main symptoms at 20 plus plus! together with really bad jaundice, all at diagnosis in feb 2010, much better after stent and attemted whipple, when rearrangement of his innerds took place. lol

was on metformin for some time [ cant say exactly] then on insulin, again not sure how long, however it all "went away" !!

since he had tia back in april, bsl and bp have been up, saw our diabetic nurse and he's going straight back on insulin tomorrow, bsl between 9 and 16.5, only noticable symtom is excessive tiredness, other than that he seems to be doing really well

re lots of meds? diff times, i make a chart with when and what on, in time sequence, and we sign when taken, really useful if i have been out, and when i went away in march for 4 days, am sure you could get one from your surgery or mac nurse!

hope some of this may be helpful, sending love and strength to everyone, laura xxx

[Cathy]

Hi Laura

Thank you so much for that. That's really good to know and for us to hope for. I really hope that it is largely steroid related given it only started after Jonathan took them and symptoms came and went with his cycles. Am hoping when his steroids stop so can his injections and pills. Interesting what you say re tiredness. He has spent all day today in bed completely wiped out. His last steroid on this cycle was yesterday. His blood sugar reading 11.

Thanks also for the recommendation re the chart. I was going to make one myself on a spreadsheet.

Just out of interest, can I just ask if Bri has has a problem with his mouth, specifically gum recession? I ask as Jonathan used to have really super teeth but, since treatment started, has has dreadful receding gums that are so bad it's changed his smile and his teeth give him gip from time to time. He's seen his dentist who has given him some prescription toothpaste and he flosses etc but to no ends. I think it possibly could be diabetes related?

I really hope Bri's blood sugar sorts itself out again. He is managing fantastically isn't he?

Xx

[J_T]

Hi Cathy, sorry to hear Jonathan has been so tired today. Its the worst side effect for Ray as you know! The onc told us today that unfortunately fatigue is one of the cumulative side effects - um, thanks for that!

Jonathan's mouth issues don't sound very pleasant either It seems you get one thing resolved then something else crops up! Really hoping he picks up soon.

I also have a spreadsheet for Ray's meds used in conjunction with the alarm on my mobile!

Wishing everyone well.

Julia x

[LindaH]

Cathy wrote :

> Hi there everyone

>

> Thank you for the replies. By the time I got home last night Jonathan had

> already done his first injection and had perked up somewhat as he realised

> it wasn't so bad and we did the live chat on here. His worry is now just

> remembering to do everything as he now has 4 injections per day plus a

> variety of pills to be taken at various points. Thank heavens for post it

> notes

>

> It's just so DISAPOINTING! No idea how long he's had a problem for but we

> are sure his blood sugar was normal before treatement started, he seems to

> have reponded well to the folfironox, his tumour markers are 90% less and

> he was told he is stable so why develop diabetes now? I still hope it is

> just the steroids - his oncologist remarked he seemed ultra sensitive to

> them (as he's lost muscle definition in his arms and legs). I hope it's

> just that.

>

> Linda - have now just read your post. Do you take insulin generally for

> your condition or is this just as a result of steroids do you think? I am

> now thinking maybe suggesting we try ditching them either entirely or at a

> much lower level given sickness hasn't been an issue for us at all.

>

> Anyhow, next scan result is the 10th (gulp).

>

> Have a good day everyone - I hope you all have the sun as I do.

>

> Cathyxx

Hi Cathy,

I was diagnosed with diabetes when I was taken into hospital last Dec. I was Jaundice, Diabetic and of course the 'Flamin' 6cm tumour in my Pancreas. I was absolutely fine before the tumour because I had a diabetic check at the chemist about 5 month before and all was clear. Now I believe it's my liver that doesn't make enough insulin. Having said that, I'm lucky....erm.....I guess because I only inject twice a day, before breakfast and before tea.

My blood sugar level does increase though when I have to take the steroids, so I have to adjust my insulin levels.

Everywhere I go, I look like a walking Pharmacy I have to carry so much stuff around with me.

I hope Jonathan is coping.

Linda x

[karen17]

Hi Cathy,

Will be thinking of you both on the 10th and keeping my fingers and toes crossed for you.

Take care xxx

[Cathy]

Hi all

Have just posted a (rather long) update on the "bit of a worry" thread but thank you for your replies and your good wishes

The whole blood sugar/fatigue/steroids thing - it is so difficult to work out what will work for the best. At the moment, as they have said that they think the steroids have caused the diabetes so we're thinking of suggesting no steroids next time. One benefit at least, as Linda points out, would be to be able to go out without looking like a pharmacy if we can reduce pills and reduce injections.

I think it is as much as the quantity of drugs, as much as anything, that is so difficult to deal with at times, especially when one thing affects another. It is such a fine balancing act. Hey ho.

Anyway, hope you all have a lovely weekend.

xx