Diurnal profile of interstitial glucose following dexamethasone prophylaxis for chemotherapy treatment of gynaecological cancer

Abstract Aims Hyperglycaemia, a side‐effect of acute glucocorticoid exposure, is associated with poor outcome in those undergoing chemotherapy. The incidence, risk factors and diurnal profile of glucocorticoid‐induced glucose dysregulation in the context of chemotherapy treatment remain incompletely understood. Methods Blinded continuous interstitial glucose monitoring was performed on 16 women without diabetes for 24 h prior to and 5 days following carboplatin/paclitaxel chemotherapy combined with dexamethasone treatment for gynaecological cancer. At the end of the treatment period, glucose data were analysed and integrated with baseline metabolic and anthropomorphic variables. Results 15/16 (94%) women exhibited elevated glucose levels (> 11.1 mmol/l). Peak glucose levels were highest on the day of treatment (median 14.45 mmol/l, range 10.2–22.2 mmol/l) and total time spent with an elevated interstitial glucose level was highly variable (median 3.6 h, range 0.0–55.1 h). Peak interstitial glucose levels occurred predominantly, but not exclusively, in the afternoon (13.00–15.00) and evening (19.00–22.00); however elevated levels were noted throughout the 24‐h period. Baseline HbA 1c was independently associated with severity and duration of elevated glucose levels in a regression adjusted for baseline BMI . Conclusions These data report for the first time that high glucose levels are encountered by nearly all women following this regimen, the severity and duration of which are independently associated with HbA 1c . Further work is required to determine if controlling glucose levels during treatment influences outcome.