Today I would like to share a guest post by Jackie Clark. Jackie joined the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance in 2009 as a research assistant after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in fitness and nutrition. Jackie’s experience in technical and medical research has allowed her to assist in the development of medical content and outreach efforts, with specializations in alternative care, cancer support programs, and social media campaigns.
Cancer and diabetes are each difficult diseases to manage. Each can be frustrating enough to deal with on their own but managing both simultaneously can be extremely problematic and stressful.
Doctors have known for some time that cancer and its various treatments can cause or aggravate symptoms of diabetes. A recent Reuters Article published on May 12, 2011 reported, “Based on a telephone survey of nearly 400,000 adults, the study – whose findings appear in “Diabetes Care” – found that 16 out of every 100 diabetic men and 17 out of every 100 diabetic women said they had cancer.”
There are differing opinions as to why this happens and what needs to be done to manage both diseases simultaneously. What patients need to know is briefly discussed herein.
According to Dr. Pankaj Shah, assistant professor in the Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders at the MD Anderson Cancer center as reported on the MD Anderson website:
“Certain treatments and certain cancers, particularly pancreatic, adrenal and lung, can produce diabetes. Sometimes diabetes appears a few years after chemotherapy.”
This is because “cancer or (cancer) treatment can bring about metabolic changes that cause or worsen diabetes. For example, you can lose muscle and not be able to exercise.”
As soon as they are diagnosed, cancer patients, whether they have a severe form such as mesothelioma or a common form such as breast cancer, should do two things. First, educate themselves about the risk factors for diabetes. Second, evaluate his or her risk based on this information. Doing so may increase your life expectancy.
Risk factors include:
• Family History
• Obesity
• Stress
• Race
• Medical history
• Tobacco use
• Gestational diabetes
If you already have diabetes, become more proactive:
• Discuss your additional issues with your doctor
• Consult your dietitian about any dietary changes that might be beneficial
• Know the blood glucose levels you need to maintain
• Know what medicines you are taking and how they affect your diabetes
• Be prepared at all times with healthy snacks
• Wear diabetes ID
Managing your blood sugar levels will help insure a better outcome and help prevent infection during treatment. Since everyone is different, patients should consult their physicians about appropriate levels.
While nausea is a common side effect of cancer treatment, it is especially important for people who have cancer and diabetes to eat.
• Take advantage of the times when you are hungry
• Try to eat frequent small meals
• Avoid fatty, fried, or spicy foods
• Do not lie down right after eating
• Sip liquids between meals but do not drink too much fluid with meals
By: Jackie Clark
I would also add that sometimes cancer treatment (chemotherapy drugs, and prednisone, in particular), can cause elevated blood glucose levels. For people who were predisposed to diabetes before ever getting cancer (for example, those with a family history of diabetes and those who were overweight or had an elevated fasting blood glucose) the scales may be tipped and diabetes may rear its ugly head at this most inopportune time. For most people, dealing with cancer is the priority and managing diabetes may mean simply taking additional medication (often insulin) in order to keep blood glucose levels in a safe range without having to make other changes. As Jackie mentioned, those who are being treated for cancer need to eat when they feel they are able to, so worrying about food and diabetes does not have to be a focus. Taking insulin requires being educated about the possibility of low blood glucose. If you are dealing with cancer and diabetes simultaneously, ask your provider for the name of the nearest diabetes educator.