immunity suppression drugs: anyone know... - Kidney Transplant

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immunity suppression drugs

Porter20 profile image
13 Replies

anyone know any immunity drugs that don’t cause diabetes?

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Porter20 profile image
Porter20
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BabyTee profile image
BabyTee

It's hard to say. When they do studies, they don't separate out the things to make it clear. Statins cause high blood sugar, but it really isn't diabetes. A high percentage of people become "prediabetic" within 6 months of starting a statin. Perhaps it is the cholesterol pills and not the immunosuppressants. My transplant center wants all their patients to be on statins because the immunosuppressants cause high cholesterol, or so they say.

I am not a medical professional, so take this with a grain of salt.

meggy619 profile image
meggy619

I became diabetic, after transplant, they call it Post Op diabetes, clearly the drugs are suppressing the natural insulin, I refused to have treatment for it, I found just avoiding all sugar, including lactose that's in raw milk, solved the problem, lactose was also causing joint and muscle pains.

Porter20 profile image
Porter20 in reply tomeggy619

Same with me… trying hard to stay off diabetes meds.

WYOAnne profile image
WYOAnneNKF Ambassador

I am 23+ years post transplant and am not diabetic and never have been. My immunosuppressants are Neoral (Cyclosporine) and Myfortic (Mycophenolate). Not sure about the relationship between what immunosuppressants you take and developing diabetes. Talk with your doctor. How far out are you from your transplant surgery? Maybe with time your blood sugar levels with normalize, kind of like your creatinine those first couple of years. Just a thought. Not a medical expert...

donnabethme profile image
donnabethme

I agree with WYOAnne. I'm 27 years out first on Cyclosporine and Mycophenolate but switched to Sirolimus and Mycophenolate after the first 10 years. I didn't develop diabetes.But each person's chemistry is different. Good luck.

LisaSnow profile image
LisaSnow

Best way to minimize risk of diabetes is a combination of weigh, blood pressure and glucose control through diet and regular exercise. Aging is actually the biggest "cause" of type two diabetes and it happens to everyone. The medications just have properties that alter the controls of metabolism to "jump start" processes that lead to a diabetes diagnosis. They also affect each individual differently depending on our genetic susceptibility and lifestyle factors. Therefore medications don't really "cause" diabetes but make you more vulnerable in developing it, earlier.

Porter20 profile image
Porter20 in reply toLisaSnow

I read they run sugars up especially prednisone and prograf.

LisaSnow profile image
LisaSnow in reply toPorter20

They can change how our body metabolizes sugar/glucose intake.

JackN profile image
JackN

All I can add is that Mycophenalate (Cellcept)does not and Tacrolimus (Prograf does). I take these two - I have diabetes and take a couple of meds but it's relatively controllable as long as I'm not stupid with my diet (stupid results in A1C over 8, smart results in A1C of 6.3).

Darlenia profile image
Darlenia in reply toJackN

Tacrolimus (Prograf and Envarsus) is well known to raise blood sugars; Mycophenalate (Cellcept) also raises blood sugar but it's a much milder side effect. You're fortunate to be able to control your sugars with diet. Kudos! I'd like to acknowledge, too, that everyone's biology, prescriptions, interactions, etc. are all very different...some just will get a more stubborn case of diabetes than others for unclear reasons and that's sad. I really hope that a "cure" is found sooner than later.

JackN profile image
JackN in reply toDarlenia

Thanks! Hope it stays that way. Yes I'm fortunate that the impact from the medications is relatively mild. I have heard of some successes with an artificial pancreas so hopefully that can be a solution for people with severe diabetes.

Darlenia profile image
Darlenia in reply toJackN

That would be an awesome outcome - an artificial pancreas for all those that need one.

LisaSnow profile image
LisaSnow in reply toJackN

No diet is stupid as long as it is an occasional indulgence! We got to enjoy the treats in life too!

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