5 replies to this topic

[rlharrell]

Hello all,

I has been some time since I have posted, since my health has been somewhat stable for a while now.   I was diagnosed with CML in July of 2005 and took Gleevec for about the first 4 years.  I have now been on Tasigna for just over 3 years.  I feel much better on the Tasigna, but it has come to my attention that my cholesterol and blood sugar levels have been steadily climbing since I started taking the Tasigna.  Last week I was diagnosed as diabetic.  I am not overweight and have no family link to diabetes.  Just wondering if anyone else has experienced these side effects from Tasigna.

Thanks for your input.

[GerryL]

I'm on Gleevec, but increased blood glucose levels is listed as a side effect with Tasigna. http://www.drugs.com...de-effects.html

[Trey]

The TKI drugs can increase blood sugar levels in some people.  This does not automatically mean it is a tendency toward diabetes, since this is a drug induced reaction, not a change in the body itself.  Those who would normally develop diabetes will go on to do so, but the others will not. 

Your doc should check your A1C levels as a better co-indicator regarding whether you have a concern about this.  If A1C is fine, then it is likely just drug induced and not necessarily a real problem.

http://labtestsonlin...es/a1c/tab/test

[susanlathers]

Dear Trey

  Please clarify how just because you have high glucose levels, if it is drug induced, it is not necessarily diabetes or a real problem.  Tasigna has made my glucose levels often in the diabetic range but my  AIC is a few 10th of a point below 7 (which my health care provider considers diabetes). All my medical records state a diagnosis of diabtetes even if you are "pre" diabetic.    How is Tasigna induced diabetes different from regular diabetes?  Any diabetes class I have taken says every time you have high gllucose levels in your blood it is doing damage to your organs just like diabetes.  this side effect of Tasigna has cause me great grief for the part 3 yrs and I would be so grateful if you could bring me some peace of mind, as I DO NOT want to suffer the consequences of diabetes in addition to CML.  Between the fasting with Tasigna and trying so hard to eat the right diet for diabetes I feel like food controls my life. Please help if you can

Susan

[Trey]

The percentage of the population with diabetes  is rather high (see link below for stats) so many people taking TKI drugs will also develop diabetes at a rate similar to the rest of the population.  But the drugs do not cause it, they just might raise the blood glucose levels mildly (hyperglycemia) in some people.  If the tendency and the drugs are combined, maybe the glucose levels could go higher in some people, but that is not well understood.  In some people the TKI drugs actually cause a decline in glucose levels.  Also, organ damage is not absolute at the lower levels.  As with most things, it is a gradual continuum, not a stair-step graph of negative effects.  I assume many people here have to watch their diet, so you are not alone.

You could try Sprycel and see if that makes a difference.

http://www.cdc.gov/d...estimates11.htm

[Susan61]

Hi Susan:  I am not on Tasigna, but I feel that so many people are becoming Diabetic just from their diet.  My husband and I are both Diabetic.  Mine is not bad right now.  It runs in my family also, so I do not know how to figure it out.

I have to say that my  husbands doctor who is a Endocrinologist has told my  husband that he does not go by the A1C test, because he said its based on a 3 month glucose.  He said you just need one week off a diabetic diet, and it throws off the whole test.  As long as he does not see my husband go above 7, he is not concerned.  I have been in the normal range on mine.

    My  opinion is that this stuff can drive you crazy, if we worry about every little thing we are told.  I was seeing a kidney specialist because I was told I had Chronic Kidney Disease.  He would do blood work on me, and then say it was stable. It was costing me money for his blood work, plus his visit as a specialist.  I stopped seeing him 3 years ago, and I let my primary doctor evaluate my blood work.  There has been no change in 3 years, and as a matter of fact I started to drink lots of water and my kidney functions came up considerably.  I hope this gave you some peace.  I am on Gleevec for 12 years, and was diagnosed about 5 years ago with the Diabetes, which my Mom has.  Also my father had Diabetes.  It runs on both sides of the family.

Susan 61