Pancreatic cancer and diabetes
Some people develop diabetes before pancreatic cancer is diagnosed or soon after surgery. Diabetes, or high blood sugar levels, occurs because your pancreas may not make enough insulin.
When you have pancreatic cancer, diabetes management is a combination of controlling your blood sugars and managing your diet. If needed, your blood sugars will be controlled with medications. The way diabetes is managed will vary from person to person. It is best to talk to a dietitian about how to control your diabetes.
Tips:
- Eating small meals and snacks regularly helps to control blood sugar levels.
- If you are taking tablets or insulin to control your diabetes, you also need to include carbohydrate foods at every meal to avoid low blood sugar. Carbohydrate foods include breads, cereals, pasta, rice, fruit and some starchy vegetables.
- If you are taking tablets or insulin to control your diabetes, it is also important to have some carbohydrate foods at every meal. Carbohydrate foods include breads, cereals, pasta, rice, fruit and some starchy vegetables. A dietitian can help plan a diet that is best for managing your diabetes and cancer and improving your quality of life.
