Type 2 Diabetes Management

Type 2 Diabetes Management – Risk Increased with Tamoxifen

Posted on October 4, 2011 by Lu Young RN

Lack of exercise can increase your risk of being diagnosed with diabetes.  But, did you also know that type 2 diabetes management – risk increased with tamoxifen, a breast cancer medication?

Current tamoxifen therapy is associated with a significantly increased incidence of diabetes in older breast cancer survivors, according to a study published online Sept. 20 in Cancer.

Lorraine L. Lipscombe, M.D., from the Women’s College Hospital in Toronto, and colleagues investigated whether tamoxifen treatment was associated with an increased risk of diabetes in 14,360 survivors of early-stage breast cancer who were older than 65 years. Participants were recruited between 1996 and 2006, and those diagnosed with diabetes during follow-up through March 31, 2008, were age-matched with up to five controls who did not develop diabetes. After adjusting for other risk factors, the risk of diabetes in current tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitor users was compared with non-users on the basis of prescriptions at diabetes diagnosis.

The investigators found that 10 percent of the patients were diagnosed with diabetes over a mean follow-up of 5.2 years. The risk of diabetes was significantly higher with current tamoxifen therapy versus no tamoxifen therapy (adjusted odds ratio, 1.24). Aromatase inhibitor therapy was not associated with diabetes.

“Current tamoxifen therapy is associated with an increased incidence of diabetes in older breast cancer survivors. These findings suggest that tamoxifen treatment may exacerbate an underlying risk of diabetes in susceptible women,” the authors write.

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In addition to increasing the risk for type 2 diabetes, tamoxifen can also increase your suspectibility to other cancers.  Some of the other effects of this potent drug are:

Tamoxifen may increase the chance of developing liver cancer and liver abnormalities such as hepatitis.

Tamoxifen may cause eye problems. These include vision changes, damage to the retina of the eye, clots within the blood vessels of the eye, and cataracts.

Tamoxifen may cause harm to the unborn baby if used during pregnancy. Women should not take tamoxifen if they are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. They should also not become pregnant for 2 months after they have stopped taking tamoxifen. Women who have not gone through menopause and are sexually active should use an effective nonhormonal contraceptive (e.g., condoms, diaphragm) while on tamoxifen and for 2 months after discontinuing tamoxifen.

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Type 2 diabetes management – risk increased with Tamoxifen, do not stop taking or change your dosage in any way without first consulting your doctor or GP.