Insulin Resistance After Chemotherapy: An Overlooked Issue

Insulin maintains your blood sugar levels and provides you with energy. Its resistance happens when this hormone stops working, and sugar remains in the blood. This condition develops more often after chemotherapy, as your metabolism and hormone balance are affected.

What causes insulin resistance?

Chemotherapy puts a lot of physical strain on your body and makes you feel stressed. This eventually leads to a rise in your blood sugar. Also, the steroids used during the treatment make it difficult to work properly. Muscle loss also affects your body’s ability to absorb sugar. These changes push your body towards insulin resistance, even when you never had this problem before.

Early signs that are missed

Insulin resistance doesn’t show up clearly in the beginning. Many symptoms are mistaken for common issues and are overlooked.

• Feeling of fatigue after your meal, even after a light one.
• Weight increase despite having a balanced appetite.
• Higher or lower blood sugars than expected during your routine tests.

These minor signs may signal something that you might be suffering silently.

Why does this matter?

Your recovery slows down because of insulin resistance, even when the treatment is moving in the right way. Unstable blood sugar lowers your energy levels and increases the risk of infections. This also happens because your immunity doesn’t work. With time, this resistance can make you diabetic or cause heart problems, which is more concerning. 

Managing insulin safely

Managing insulin resistance isn’t about adding extra pressure. Instead, it’s about starting gently and monitoring your sugar levels. Adjusting your diet and having proper meal timing helps your body work better. Allowing your body to move with light physical activity supports muscles and insulin. Also, clear medical guidance can clear your doubts and adjust your medications to balance the chemotherapy and insulin. The aim isn’t to gain control but to achieve stability.

Listen to your body 

Chemotherapy doesn’t end your treatment. Your body struggles to recover from insulin resistance even after treatment. However, it is important to know that your recovery is possible with small adjustments in your routine. Self-awareness and the right medical support can give you time to heal and move ahead with strength.