immunity suppression drugs

[Porter20]

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

[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]

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 in reply to meggy619]

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

[WYOAnne NKF 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]

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]

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 in reply to LisaSnow]

I read they run sugars up especially prednisone and prograf.

[LisaSnow in reply to Porter20]

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

[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 in reply to JackN]

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 in reply to Darlenia]

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 in reply to JackN]

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

[LisaSnow in reply to JackN]

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