Diabetes and targeted therapy
How targeted therapy can affect your diabetes
Targeted therapy is used to treat many different types of cancer. It can be used to control the growth of cancer cells by targeting something that is helping them to grow.
Some targeted therapy drugs may affect your blood sugar level during treatment. Depending on which drug you are taking, your blood sugar level may get higher or lower. It should return to normal after you stop having targeted therapy treatment.
The targeted therapy drugs sorafenib (Nexavar®) and sunitinib (Sutent®) can lower your blood sugars.
Some targeted therapy drugs can increase your blood sugar level.
These include:
- alpelisib (Piqray®)
- bortezomib (Velcade®)
- cabozantinib (Cabometyx®, Cometriq®)
- ceritinib (Zykadia®)
- dabrafenib (Tafinlar®) and trametinib (Mekinst®)
- everolimus (Afinitor®)
- gemtuzumab (Mylotarg®)
- lenvatinib (Lenvima®, Kisplyx®)
- nilotinib (Tasigna®) and ponatinib (Iclusig®)
- panitumumab (Vectibix®)
- rituximab (Mabthera®).
Ask your cancer doctor if your treatment may increase your blood sugar level.
The side effects of some drugs can be worse if you have diabetes. Your cancer doctor or specialist nurse can give you more information.
Managing your blood sugar level during targeted therapy
A course of targeted therapy treatment may last a few months, but can also last a few years. During treatment, you may need to check your blood sugar level more often. Sometimes, you may need to change your insulin or tablet dose. Your cancer doctor or specialist nurse will help you with this.
It is important to tell your doctors how well you are controlling your blood sugar level during your treatment.
Talk to your doctor if you do not have diabetes, but develop any of its symptoms while having targeted therapy. You can find out more about symptoms of diabetes at Diabetes UK.
About our information
This information has been written, revised and edited by Macmillan Cancer Support’s Cancer Information Development team. It has been reviewed by expert medical and health professionals and people living with cancer.
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References
Below is a sample of the sources used in our diabetes and cancer treatment information. If you would like more information about the sources we use, please contact us at informationproductionteam@macmillan.org.uk
Joint British Diabetes Societies for inpatient care (JBDS-IP). The management of glycaemic control in people with cancer. 2023.
Joharatnam-Hogan, N; Chambers, P; Dhatariya, K; and Board, R. The Joint BritishDiabetes Society for Inpatient Care (JBDS), UK Chemotherapy Board (UKCB). A guideline for the outpatient management of glycaemic control in people with cancer. Diabetes Medicine. 2022; 39.1-11. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/dme.14636 [accessed Oct 2022].
Shahid, R.; Shahid, A.; Duc, L; and Sunil, Y. Diabetes and Cancer, Risks, Challenges, Management and Outcomes. MDPI. 2021;13:1-21. Available from: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8616213 [accessed Oct 2022].
Date reviewed
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