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Hepatitis C and blood sugar
I was curious if anyone has had any experience with blood sugar problems as a result of Hep C. I have been noticing that sometimes after I eat (especially lunch for some reason) that I seem to crash. I get real tired where I take a nap at work sometimes. I have read that hep C can cause blood sugar abnormalities. There is a history of Diabetes in my family (brother and father) and I am about 30 lbs overweight so it could be that. I am going to schedule a test with my doctor. I've had them in years past and been fine but i am wondering if it could be from the hep c. Anyone else ever experience this?
Hepatitis C patients may have abnormal blood sugar
Reuters, September 8, 2008
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Nearly two thirds of patients with chronic hepatitis C infection may have abnormal blood sugar levels, according to a report in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.
Blood sugar, or "glucose," abnormalities "are common and easily underestimated among patients with chronic hepatitis C infection," Dr. Ming-Lung Yu from Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan told Reuters Health. Careful evaluation for undetected glucose abnormalities is "essential" in caring for chronic hepatitis C patients.
Yu and colleagues compared the prevalence and characteristics of glucose abnormalities among 522 chronic hepatitis C patients and a comparison group of 447 without hepatitis C infection ("controls"), based on the results of an oral glucose tolerance test.
After excluding the subjects who were known to have diabetes, just over one third of the hepatitis C patients (34.2 percent) had normal results on the oral glucose tolerance test, the authors report, whereas 42.8 percent had impaired glucose tolerance and 23.0 percent had undiagnosed diabetes.
In contrast, 64.7 percent of the controls had normal levels of glucose, 32.4 percent had impaired glucose tolerance, and 2.9 percent had diabetes.
A family history of diabetes, male gender, advanced fibrosis stage of hepatitis, and increasing age each increased the risk of having glucose abnormalities, according to additional analyses.
Two consecutive fasting plasma glucose measurements or randomly measured glucose levels greater than 200 milligram per deciliter were not sufficient to confirm glucose abnormalities in the patients with chronic hepatitis C infection, Yu noted.
"Since family history, insulin resistance, age, and obesity are predisposing factors associated with diabetes in chronic hepatitis C patients, we would recommend an oral glucose tolerance test for chronic hepatitis C patients who are older than 40 years old," have a family history of diabetes or who are overweight, Yu advised.
Reuters, September 8, 2008
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Nearly two thirds of patients with chronic hepatitis C infection may have abnormal blood sugar levels, according to a report in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.
Blood sugar, or "glucose," abnormalities "are common and easily underestimated among patients with chronic hepatitis C infection," Dr. Ming-Lung Yu from Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan told Reuters Health. Careful evaluation for undetected glucose abnormalities is "essential" in caring for chronic hepatitis C patients.
Yu and colleagues compared the prevalence and characteristics of glucose abnormalities among 522 chronic hepatitis C patients and a comparison group of 447 without hepatitis C infection ("controls"), based on the results of an oral glucose tolerance test.
After excluding the subjects who were known to have diabetes, just over one third of the hepatitis C patients (34.2 percent) had normal results on the oral glucose tolerance test, the authors report, whereas 42.8 percent had impaired glucose tolerance and 23.0 percent had undiagnosed diabetes.
In contrast, 64.7 percent of the controls had normal levels of glucose, 32.4 percent had impaired glucose tolerance, and 2.9 percent had diabetes.
A family history of diabetes, male gender, advanced fibrosis stage of hepatitis, and increasing age each increased the risk of having glucose abnormalities, according to additional analyses.
Two consecutive fasting plasma glucose measurements or randomly measured glucose levels greater than 200 milligram per deciliter were not sufficient to confirm glucose abnormalities in the patients with chronic hepatitis C infection, Yu noted.
"Since family history, insulin resistance, age, and obesity are predisposing factors associated with diabetes in chronic hepatitis C patients, we would recommend an oral glucose tolerance test for chronic hepatitis C patients who are older than 40 years old," have a family history of diabetes or who are overweight, Yu advised.
Hello, on my first biopsy it showed fatty changes along with cronic active Hep-C now sonogram shows fatty Liver. Hep-C will cause fatty liver along with wheight gain but the origen is what came first the fatty liver or Hep-c since the liver is the primary organ to break down every thing you put in your mouth when it is damaged it can not preform properly thus you gain weight easily and find it almost impossible to loose My PCP has me on a 900 cal diet I can usualy make 1000-1200 but take 5mg ongliza and 60 units of insulin a day I find that evening time is where my sugar rises daily it runs close to 100 but at dinner it is 120-130 which leaves me with a small dinner 250-300 cal or my blood sugar will be 160-170 which puts me at A1C 7.5-6-7 I try not to eat any breads or baked goods at all even protein you should keep to 6 ounces a day good luck you should also find a good endroconologist
Me either *sigh*. It's like interferon helps with not only HCV but cancer and MS.....one discovery leads to another and hopefully helps each other out in the end. And that is just from a purely self motivated selfish way of thinking....look at the PIs and cocktails and where things were ten/twenty years ago?!
I dont know it sounded as if you are aware since you say you are waiting for the 'new' meds but they have made giant advances in the treatment of HCV in the past few years, greater chances of success, less long term meds. Thank God for big pharma, people might want to rail against them but the government is not going to help, thank God that they are.
PS This thread is six years old.
Insulin Resistance is a big issue when treating, I do believe that the underlying cause is the hep itself not the treatment itself.
PS This thread is six years old.
Insulin Resistance is a big issue when treating, I do believe that the underlying cause is the hep itself not the treatment itself.
As others have already mentioned, there certainly is a connection between HCV and Type 2.
I'm TX naive and have been above normal on my fasting glucose for quite a few years. In 1998, it was 113. In the past couple of years, it's in the low 100s. So, in 13 years, there's an impairment, but it's been relatively unchanged. So, I'm somewhat careful with my diet, I exercise and lift weights, and try and lead as stress-free as humanly possible.
I'm TX naive and have been above normal on my fasting glucose for quite a few years. In 1998, it was 113. In the past couple of years, it's in the low 100s. So, in 13 years, there's an impairment, but it's been relatively unchanged. So, I'm somewhat careful with my diet, I exercise and lift weights, and try and lead as stress-free as humanly possible.
also please write your congressperson about putting more money to use on HCV research, they only give $900,000 per year and aids gets millions for research and we now surpass aids in the number of individuals that have it, so many more don't even know they have, testing, testing, testing.
I feel the same if I eat certain things like meats, dairy or other meals, when I juice and drink water I feel much better, may want to try little meals, big ones seem to drag us down big time. I have been juicing carrots and apples and parsley and feel much better, also get your testosteron levels checked, cause that can cause you to feel tired and the treatment destroyed my ability to produce it, we need hormones just like women need theres to stay healthy. Take care, also there is a good group for heppers on facebook called dragon slayers cleared or not all welcome that is great for info.
Yeah they are finding out that treatment can cause diabetes in people, you can google it and find out the specifics, I encourage ppl to research everything. The interferon and ribo treatment has so many side effects its mind boggling. I'm 2 yrs post treatment and still have bad sides and another disease. Now I am waiting for new treatments, the treatment was too rough on me. Take care and stay healthy as possible, if you cleared it and still svr congrats to you. Try juicing with a machine if you really want to stay healthy as possible.
After I have eaten I feel so dragged out I don't want to do anything. Also if I eat one bit too many I feel so sick to my stomach.
I am going to respond to this thread in the more recent one posted by TimeDog Diabetes and Hep C.
Ive got diabetes 2 as well, seems to be a common thing with us heppers.
I know of a guy who was geno 3, had the diabetes as well, and after he finished tx, he was UNdetected, has been clear for over 2 years now, and the diabetes has gone as well.
I know of a guy who was geno 3, had the diabetes as well, and after he finished tx, he was UNdetected, has been clear for over 2 years now, and the diabetes has gone as well.
Don't get worried, please. Even if you should have some problems with your blood sugar levels because of the virus or tx or whatever, it's not a terrible disease if you take good care of yourself. My sister-in-law has had type 1 diabetes (which is supposedly worse than type 2, the kind any of us might get) for 56 years and, with the exeption of minor retinal stuff, caused by pregnancy, (it was easily rectified with a few laser zaps and doesn't interfere with vision), she's had no complications at all. She is very diligent about her diet and schedule; that seems to be the magical ingredient for diabetes care. Anybody who can adhere to the rules of hepatitis treatment will have no problem dealing with diabetes. Also, even if your do have diabetic symptoms, they should resolve after you clear the hcv, I think. (Not sure on that one. Does anybody here know the answer to that?)
It's a beautiful day here in L.A. I'm going to go out and eat Mongolian barbecue and then watch a DVD. Hope we all have a wonderful weekend.
pigeon
It's a beautiful day here in L.A. I'm going to go out and eat Mongolian barbecue and then watch a DVD. Hope we all have a wonderful weekend.
pigeon
Thanks so much for this info only now you got me worried! I think your idea of testing yourself is such good advice and I am going to take it. Thanks for your input on foods, I am trying to learn more about glycemic index, lots I didn't know there too.
One other thing: The natural sugars in fruits can be just as dangerous to diabetics as sucrose or glucose. Also, white bread is worse than sugar. Take a look at glycemic index tables. Very enlightening.
pigeon
pigeon
I've been prediabetic for about 2 years, and got diagnosis for hcv just a few months ago. Diabetes does run in my family, however, so I just figured it came about for hereditary reasons. One thing very important though is that most docs test FASTING blood sugar to diagnose diabetes and this is absolutely insufficient. Most people get elevated sugars after eating for many years before their fasting levels go up. When my brother, who is very diabetic, went to classes for new diabetics, some of his classmates were just diagnosed yet were already suffering MAJOR side effects, including one guy who had to have a toe amputated and another whose vision was permanently affected. IMHO everyone who is at risk should buy a blood sugar meter and test after a good carb laden meal. Do it one hour after and then again two hours after. If your sugar at one hour is over 140 and at two hours over 120, you do have a problem that needs to be dealt with. Also, on the A1c test, which tells you what your average blood sugar has been for the past three months, you should not have a number higher than 6. The docs will tell you that up to 6.5 or so is normal; it is NOT!! 6.5 is okay for a diabetic, maybe, but not for a non-diabetic. As a matter of fact, the medical establishment is doing a terrible job of diagnosising diabetes and therefore it is incumbent upon us, the patients, to do the work ourselves and then demand treatment. In many cases, the good old "diet and exercise" will suffice. In other cases, we need metformin or even a bit of insulin.
pigeon
pigeon
A friend of mine who finished tx and cleared the virus 1a, now has diabetes. Another friend of mine couldn't do treatment, his platelets went down so fast and low he almost died after one shot. He now also has diabetes. There is a definite connection.
like the others said there is a connection between blood sugar levels & hcv. my glucose level runs slighty above normal 110 (fasting normal 65-99). i also read somewhere about insulin resistance having a negative affect on tx.
I agree with Ron, diabetes is a possible sx of this tx. I was concerned when I first learned of this as my grandmother and father had diabetes, and my father died from it when they adjusted his insulin. Now my brother has it, so there definitely is a family history for me.
Thus, ut is one thing we check from time to make sure that tx is not creating an onset of it in me.
As for blood sugars, in talking with a few folks and seeing a couple of studies awhile ago, it was interesting to learn that consuption of refined sugars are thought to aid in cancers and viruses sustaining themselves in the body. The general recommendation was to reduce them from one's diet and look at consuming natural sugars, such as those found in fruits.
Thus, ut is one thing we check from time to make sure that tx is not creating an onset of it in me.
As for blood sugars, in talking with a few folks and seeing a couple of studies awhile ago, it was interesting to learn that consuption of refined sugars are thought to aid in cancers and viruses sustaining themselves in the body. The general recommendation was to reduce them from one's diet and look at consuming natural sugars, such as those found in fruits.
I've often suspected there's a connection between hcv and blood sugar problems. I don't know if I have blood sugar problems (I test negative for the diabetes A0 test), but I have for many years been hit with the type of fatigue you describe. HCV has definitely been linked to diabetes and obviously the liver is one of the key organs for regulating blood sugar (along with the pancreas). I've often thought about getting a blood sugar meter and start measuring sugar levels throughout the day and record the results in a diary. Write down how you feel, last meal, what was it, how long ago was it consumed, and measured blood sugar. You may very well start to identify a pattern of fatigue being associated with blood sugar, and if so, develop a plan for controlling it.
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