Affintor and elevated blood sugar???!!!

[BorisCarloff]

Just reaching out to see IF any other sisters have had elevated blood sugar on Affintor. Normal my whole life and now in a scary zone since taking this drug for 6 weeks:(( Thanx gals.

[awesome4ever]

Hello there. Hyperglycemia is very common when you take Everolimis....I think the literature shows up to 60% of people will get it. I have been taking Everolimis for 15 months now and we have been monitoring glucose levels as well as cholesterol levels ever since I started on this treatment (which is also common for it to rise with Everolimis). Normally we just check random glucose with monthly labs but last month we were due for the annual Hgb A1C check which gives you a 3 month reading of your glucose levels for that time frame. This was the 1st time that my level shows the level as being in the danger of diabetes range. I have scans next week so if they are stable 🤞 then my oncologist and I will discuss whether I should start on Metformin or not. I have no issues with side effects from this treatment so I hope to continue taking it long- term. Another thing for you to know is that all studies show that the hyperglycemia caused by taking Everolimis is reversible as soon as you stop taking it...of course that is assuming you never had predisposed factors towards a tendency of high glucose beforehand. Good luck and keep me in the loop as to how you plan to manage. My thought is that I will continue as is and re- check the Hgb A1C in 3 months. Take care.

[BorisCarloff in reply to awesome4ever]

Thank YOU awesome4ever. I am so thrilled you have not had any side effects with Everolimis.

Been on it 2 months and have had almost all of the SE but it is all getting better except glucose But if it works what the heck!!!! Meeting with a high glucose expert in 2 weeks. I am blessed to be treated at MSK IN NYC where they have an expert for every conceivable issue.

Thank you again so much.

xx

[awesome4ever in reply to BorisCarloff]

So sorry you have experienced side effects...truthfully I have been lucky as I also had no side effects from my 1st line(Ibrance/Femara) either.

Good luck with your appointment with the endocrinologist in 2 weeks. Be sure to share the fact that this is a medication related hyperglycemia. I have easy access to one but for now have chosen not to go that route....will revisit after my scans. Please share what they say. Take care.

[awesome4ever in reply to BorisCarloff]

Hi BorisCarloff. Just checking in on what the Endocrinologist said at your appointment regarding hyperglycemia on Everolimis. As I previously mentioned my last Hgb A1C showed I was in the diabetic range. My oncologist and I spoke last week and we decided I would start on Metformin low dose once a day. Let me know what your plan is. Thanks.

[Oberammergaux2]

Hi.

I’ve never had elevated glucose (sugar) with Afinitor, just very elevated cholesterol.

That said, elevated glucose is mentioned as a frequent side effect of Afinitor. Evidently it can change the way your body metabolizes sugar. Your provider should be aware and most certainly your levels should be monitored very closely.

Your MDs should do some digging to see if this is possibly a temporary issue, something that is dose related or if it will continue while you are on Afinitor.

You can also call the manufacturer of your Afinitor (Novartis?) and report the side effect to them.

I’m sorry you’ve run into this! But thank you so much for bringing it up. Hopefully some others may have more experience with this side effect and give you a big thumbs up that it’s temporary. 💕 Stay strong and hugs to you.

[BorisCarloff]

Hugs right back at you!!!!!