title: Retrospective review of the incidence of monitoring blood glucose levels in patients receiving corticosteroids with systemic anticancer therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Corticosteroids are used adjuvant to certain chemotherapy regimens, either as an antiemetic, to reduce other side effects, or to enhance cancer treatment. Additionally, they are frequently used for symptom control in cancer patients with end stage disease. Corticosteroid use may induce hyperglycemia in approximately 20-50% of patients, which may negatively affect patient outcomes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the frequency of blood glucose monitoring in patients with and without diabetes receiving continuous corticosteroids with chemotherapy, and to determine the incidence of treatment-emergent abnormal blood glucose levels and steroid-induced diabetes mellitus (DM).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review was conducted for 30 genitourinary (GU) cancer patients who were treated with continuous oral corticosteroids as part of their chemotherapy regimen. The Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) criterion for diagnosis of diabetes was applied to categorize patients into two distinct groups, patients with diabetes and patients without diabetes. This categorization was made based on glucose measurements completed prior to commencement of corticosteroid therapy. Glucose monitoring was defined as receiving a laboratory blood glucose test before first chemotherapy administration along with a test within a week of each subsequent treatment cycle. The CDA criteria for diagnosis of pre-diabetes and diabetes was used to classify glucose levels as hyperglycemic.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean incidence of blood glucose monitoring was 19% and 76% in patients with diabetes and patients without diabetes, respectively. Approximately, 40% of patients with diabetes required an adjustment to their diabetes management and a further 20% required hospitalization. Fifteen patients without diabetes received a fasting blood glucose test, of which 40% had abnormal blood glucose results; half of these fell into the pre-diabetic range and half in the diabetic range. Ten patients without diabetes were tested for diabetes using the CDA criteria for diabetes diagnosis during or after their chemotherapy, of which 30% developed diabetes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In order to optimize patient care, blood glucose levels should be monitored in all patients receiving continuous oral corticosteroids as part of their chemotherapy. Future studies should be conducted prospectively to determine the most effective manner of monitoring in order to implement screening guidelines and avoid unnecessary morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Rapid Response Radiotherapy Program, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Leigha
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rowbottom
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Jordan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stinson
authors.affiliation: Rapid Response Radiotherapy Program, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Urban
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Emmenegger
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lowe
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Angie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giotis
authors.affiliation: Rapid Response Radiotherapy Program, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cheon
authors.affiliation: Rapid Response Radiotherapy Program, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pasetka
authors.affiliation: Rapid Response Radiotherapy Program, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Nemica
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Thavarajah
authors.affiliation: Rapid Response Radiotherapy Program, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pulenzas
authors.affiliation: Rapid Response Radiotherapy Program, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Carlo.DeAngelis@sunnybrook.ca.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: DeAngelis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009864:Ontario; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D043823:Taxoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D014565:Urogenital Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001786:Blood Glucose; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D003907:Dexamethasone; D011241:Prednisone
keywords: Corticosteroid-induced diabetes; cancer; hyperglycemia