Blood sugar & cholesterol after RT/HT

My GP has recently been pro-active in testing me for various things, I am not sure whether that is because of the salvage RT I underwent in the summer or the fact I turned 70. Anyway, my cholesterol was found to be 5.8 which resulted in a prescription for statins. I have gone along with that - even though 5.8 would have been in the normal range until a few years ago - but will be interested in the follow-up test.

The GP didn't mention a blood sugar result, but since I know he was going to test for HbA1c I assume he didn't find any indications of type 2 diabetes.

I was also found to have high blood pressure (which had been fine a few years ago), and have a prescription for that. It has been a bit of a shock to start taking so many tablets, but I thought it best to follow advice to avoid other risks given my main concern has been the prostate cancer.

And finally, the test showed I had low iron, which could quite plausibly be a consequence of radiotherapy. However it seems that isn't improving as hoped, since after follow-up bloods the practice has set up another telephone appointment.

Although on paper I have been off hormone therapy for the last 4-5 months (the last Zoladex injection took me just to the end of radiotherapy) I am only just getting the first indications of testosterone coming back, like return of body hair. So if any of these things are related to treatment it will be another few months before it is worth re-checking.

I can't give you any insight into what is going on, but I can reassure you you are not alone - in fact we seem to be on a parallel path. I am hoping that for me the return of testosterone normality will make a difference.

We feel exactly the same Peter and have the same dilemma. My husbands total cholesterol was 4.7 and LDL 2.9 both are within the range they should be although on the higher side of that. He has been prescribed statins. I really think the main factor that they use in the risk assessment is age, basically they would have everyone over 70 on statins as the risk of heart attack or stroke within the next 10 years will be over the 10% that you said. My husband only had HT for 6 months and his last injection was Nov 2021 so not sure that would be contributing to his figures.

I looked at his risk on the stroke association website and he only scored 1….purely because his age was between 70-74. Treatment is often recommended with a score of 2 or above.

He wants to stay off any medication if he can but we would also wonder ‘what if’ if anything happened. He’s having another procedure in March and after that he will probably end up taking the statins. 

Thanks for this post, it’s been on my mind for quite sometime.

Elaine

I have had a similar experience. Two years of zoladex. About half way through my GP did some blood tests. Cholesterol was above the top of the normal range and blood sugar was at the top of the normal range, Hba1C1 wasn't too far from normal. 

My GP had about 10 patients on zoladex at the time so is presumably familiar with the side effects. Testosterone is created from cholesterol so that explains why that goes up. I can't remember how HT caused higher blood sugar, but it can do. My GP wasn't concerned about these rises and was not inclined to start me on any medication.

About 15 years ago I was diagnosed with hemochromatosis, I had about four years of treatment (blood letting) and then I ignored if for 10 years. My iron levels are still above normal but lower than when they were treating me. My inclination is to leave things alone unless they are definitely causing a problem.

So if I were in your shoes, I would not be starting any medication for things which are not too far from normal until you have been off HT for a year. Now if your sugar or cholesterol were at dangerously high levels then that would be a different matter, I would start medication now but I would be asking to review that once I had been off HT for a year.

Of course these are just my opinions, and what I would do with my body. What you do with your body is up to you.

As with many of us I was pretty healthy/fit. Shortly after starting treatment put on tablets for high pressure, obv still taking them.

Started on statins July 22, cholesterol figures a bit high etc, put off having statins 12 months earlier but I do trust my go - whether treatment added to cholesterol issues one doesn't know. I am over 65 & on blood pressure tabs so will be over 10% risk anyway.

After regular annual blood tests etc July 22 found I've had chronic anaemia since 2017, any treatment etc being looked at now (seems zinc levels a bit low also). Again whether the anaemia is linked to treatment one can't say but I was in middle of treatment in 2017. I did ask during recent annual consultation but consultant said that maybe whilst on treatment yes but no evidence of lasting effect.

Year before last (2021) I was prediabetic and maybe before then, can't remember but think I was, but last summer levels gone down GP did acknowledge treatment may be a factor.

Peter