The effect of Dexamethasone on glucose profiles in Diabetes. v1.0

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Examining the effect of administered Dexamethasone as part of chemotherapy on glucose profiles in Diabetes.

• IRAS ID

  140817

• Contact name

  Denise Ann Crossan

• Contact email

  denise.crossan@chelwest.nhs.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Chelsea & Westminster NHS Foundation Trust

• Research summary

  Patients with cancer and diabetes face unique challenges. Most of these challenges relate to the management of their diabetes before, during, and after cancer therapies (Richardson and Pollack 2005). Studies have shown that people with diabetes and cancer have a poorer prognosis than individuals without diabetes. Patients having chemotherapy frequently receive high dose steroids as an important part of controlling nausea, which increases the risk of high blood glucose levels. This can result in diabetes emergencies, and may worsen the patients overall symptoms.
  While the association between steroids and high blood glucose levels is well known, there are little data on the time course as to when blood glucose levels start to rise after taking Dexamethasone and when blood glucose levels return to pre admission/chemotherapy levels. Managing high blood glucose levels when taking steroids is very challenging. Treatments range from tablets to insulin injections.

  This study will examine the effects on blood glucose levels of high dose steroids (Dexamethasone) administered during chemotherapy in patients with diabetes, where the most common steroid regime is between 2mg and 4mg of Dexamethasone given three times a day for three days with each cycle of treatment. This will be achieved either with 7 point blood glucose measurement which is testing blood glucose levels before meals (breakfast,lunch,dinner), 2 hours after meals and before bed or wearing a Continuous Glucose Monitoring System (CGMS) and measuring the blood glucose levels before meals and before bed.
  Knowing the time frame as to when blood glucose levels rise and fall whilst taking steroids will help guide appropriate and effective treatment choices and alterations to these treatments.

• REC name

  London - Chelsea Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  14/LO/0060

• Date of REC Opinion

  3 Mar 2014

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion