Blood glucose changes during cancer treatment are most likely to be:

• A. May decrease due to chemotherapy
• B. May be elevated due to chemotherapy or corticosteroids
• C. Remain unchanged
• D. Unpredictable and not related to treatment

Answer: (B)

Blood glucose can rise during cancer treatment largely because corticosteroids used with chemotherapy push glucose up. These drugs increase hepatic glucose production and impair the body’s ability to use insulin, creating hyperglycemia. The stress of illness and potential infections during treatment also elevates glucose through stress hormones. Because of these effects, higher blood sugar is a common and expected change rather than a decrease, no change, or an unpredictable relation to treatment. It’s important to monitor glucose in patients receiving steroids or certain chemo regimens and manage hyperglycemia as needed.