Low Blood Sugar from Tamoxifen?

Veeder14

I had another PET/CT scan today and when my blood sugar was checked it was 63. About 14 hours without food. It's usually between 85-100 before the scans. I've been on Tamoxifen for almost 9 months now and I'm wondering if it can cause low blood sugar. I really didn't have any symptoms but of course was hungry.

AliceBastable

You hadn't eaten, of course it was down. I'm mildly diabetic and had to go on a strict zero carb diet the day before a PET scan to get down below 100. We're you told not to eat anything? My instruction sheet said only diabetics had to alter their eating, and only for one day. Were you told not to eat for some reason?

And can I ask why you're having what sounds like frequent PET scans? Mine was because of a different cancer, not related to the breast one. My MO only orders scans of the patient has specific symptoms or really wonky bloodwork.

Veeder14

Hi AliceBastable,

I've been having frequent PET scans for the last 3 years due to Melanoma not breast cancer. The instructions I was given each time was not to eat for at least 6 hours prior to the scan time. Could drink as much water as I wanted prior. Due to the time of my scan I would have had to get up and eat breakfast at about 5 am if I was going to eat an early breakfast. Decided to sleep instead since the Tamoxifen messes with my sleep so much. I guess I was just kind of shocked at having such a low blood sugar reading. Thank you for responding.

gb2115

A glucose level of 63 with fasting for 14 hours in a non-diabetic is fine. Your body will recognize and adjust by having your liver dump glycogen stores into the blood to compensate. They just drew your blood before that happened. I deal with lab work at work, and we ignore the non-diabetic glucose levels if they are a little low.

Veeder14

Thanks so much gb2115 for writing back to me. I'll stop worrying about this now.

AliceBastable

Maybe have a late-night healthy snack the evening before so your body hasn't gone without food so long?

ksusan

I have diabetes and tamoxifen seems to make my FBS go up.

Veeder14

Hi Alice Bastable,

Yes, good idea. I did have some fruit at 10 pm. The hospital I go to reserves the morning PET scans for diabetic patients, so I'm always in the afternoon.

Hi Ksusan,

Sorry to hear it raises your blood sugar. I hope it's only minimally. Let's hope the side effects of Tamoxifen are reversed when done taking it.