Hep C Discussion Forum

Hi John,

The relationship between Vitamin D, diabetes and liver fibrosis is complex, and still the subject of research. Optimal levels of blood Vit D are disputed, but 35-40 ng/ml is the most widely accepted. However, genes are also involved, so blood levels are not the only answer. The most popular theories are that decreased Vit D levels are associated with increased liver fibrosis and a poor response the the old SOC treatment. Low levels are also related to increased risk of Type 2 diabetes, due to Beta pancreatic cell effect.

As sunlight provides 90-95% of our Vit D, it's obvious why some have low levels. I had mine checked at SOT and was normal so didn't take supplements. High Vit D levels cause other problems. I rechecked my Vit D after 9 months of Rx as I was mostly indoors, but it remained normal. It's certainly relevant to get your levels checked. However, some patients have gene mutations that affect Vit D, even in the presence of adequate sun exposure. Cheers.

My A1C during treatment came back very good at 5.5 but just tested again and was back up to 6.6.

Of course, after the 5.5 came back, I started eating pancakes and waffles with log cabin syrup, and sugar smacks and frosted flakes cereal, and pie and cake and celebrated for a few months. Now, I am back to reality.

Maybe the numbers will drop again if I ever get back to work. Laying around the house all day doesn't help my numbers.

I was diagnosed with diabetes type 2 within the last 7 yrs I've had hep c since the 80's and are type 1a early cirrhosis started triple therapy with sovaldi Ribavirin and Interferon on 1/31/14. and just finished treatment on 4/25/14 and have been undetected since 2/27/14.  Waiting for eot viral load test.  I have been very lax recently about testing my blood sugar levels and when I get serious I test in the morning.  The last two or three tests showed the lowest numbers that I can remember.  A 78 one morning and an 84 the next.  Usually my numbers are around 130.  I think the low numbers are attributed to the hep c being UND.  Hopefully I can reduce my drugs for diabetes. Need to discuss with dr. and I'm sure he'll order an A1C.

I am on the 90 day treatment plan. Apparently, I was the first patient in town to get this new sovaldi treatment and got it the very day it arrived in the local pharmacies. The nurse in the doctor's office tells me they are telling all the other patients about me (nameless of course) but I am the pioneer in my town with these drugs.

I have been type two diabetic for 3 years now and pre-diabetic for several years. I just had myself a bowl of chocolate ice cream to celebrate. My doctors are completely surprised about the diabetes aspect of all of this. I saw someone on youtube or on the internet talk about how they no longer had to take insulin shots after they attained SVR and why I decided to seek treatment for hep c. Diabetes really sucks too especially if you have a sweet tooth!

My doctors always told me that I only had inflammation on a scale of 0 to 1 like it was no big deal but my blood labs always indicated changes were going on in my body. I am not overweight at all and quite active so diabetes really surprised me and I always suspected it was related to hep c. It was just a theory but it appears that I was correct and may likely kill 2 birds with one stone so to speak.

Fortunately for me, I am gen 2b which is the most favorable for treatment and cure. However, after 40 years it has been causing me problems lately as with diabetes.

Good luck to you. Keep me posted on your progress. I have had no issues with this treatment at all. 

Tomorrow I will have completed 4 weeks of treatment with Sovaldi & Ribavirin.

My labs results show my viral load is at 43 down from 1.6 million (almost there) and my diabetes AIC test came back at 5.5 which means (down from 6.5) that I may no longer be diabetic anymore. In fact, the family doctor cut my metformin prescription in half and wants to retest in a couple of months and maybe take me off metformin permanently. It seems that inflammation of the liver causes fat to build up in the liver which prevents the body from breaking down sugar properly which causes hep c patients to be at increased risk to develop diabetes.

I have had no serious side effects except for some restless and sleepless nights which have always plagued me. My doctor prescribed me  ambien yesterday and I slept like a baby all night. Best sleep in years. The whites of my eyes seems to be getting a little whiter too.

I am so happy about this news. I pray that all my friends in this forum can experience similar results.

God Bless All of You!

my appointment is with a GI doc that has a special interest in Liver disease. but The closest hepa has a satellite office 2 hours away. I might try to get into him though it might be a long wait. I want to get this started no matter what. Is a CT scan as good as a biopsy? I had an ultrasound last year. so I am due for another. 

Hi Jenifer, yes, you`d need interferon and ribavirin with Olysio treatment, the same as you would for the other triple therapies with incivek or victrelis.  I see what you mean about the travelling distance, but if you do decide eventually to go for a treatment that included interferon you would give yourself the weekly injection at home.  It`s very easy to do once you`ve been shown how, and most people don`t find doing it themselves a problem, although of course the side effects can be quite unpleasant. 

Sierrajen wrote:

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Thank you all for your warm welcome. When I saw the new drugs that got approved I became so hopeful that finally I can overcome this thing.

I got an appointment in February with a new doc that looks to have a lot of experience and has landed in my neck of the woods. I have had no biopsy but i have had this probably since the mid 70's. My viral load was done 1 year ago after my numbers from the liver panels got to high and the doc said it was time. I am thinking I might be feeling the liver at this point. I know that isn't good. I'm afraid of interferon . I'm a huge sissy about being ill. Maybe the J&J drug that just got approved. Any thoughts on that one?

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Hi again, Jenifer, I can understand your reluctance to do any treatment containing interferon, especially at this point in time when all-oral treatments for genotype 1 are fast approaching. 

The new drug you mentioned from Johnson and Johnson is Olysio (simeprevir), marketed by Janssen, and it would also require interferon.  The advantage of that over the first generation protease inhibitors (victrlis or incivik) is that it would be one pill a day for the first 12 weeks, (plus ribavirin twice daily and weekly interferon shots), although you`d need to do 24 weeks assuming you responded well and were UND at week 4. 

I`m glad you have an appointment lined up with a new doctor in February, and you`re doing the right thing by finding out as much as you can about the treatment options that will be available to you.  A lot will depend on how soon he thinks you`ll need to start treatment. 

Keep in touch with us and you`ll get all the support you need, we all understand how scary it all seems before you start treatment.  You`ll beat it one way or another, don`t worry! 

SierraJen,

I am a huge sissy too and after researching interferon, I didn't want any part of and waited for the FDA to approve Sovaldi. My liver doctor said I had time even though my family doctors were all up in arms about my white and red blood count and bilirubin levels and etc.

There are many in this forum who have bravely underwent the interferon treatment, some multiple times, and they have my admiration, prayers and sympathy combined. The thought of experiencing flu like symptoms for any span of time is beyond my comprehension to imagine and for their sakes, I hope the new drugs are approved quickly.

I think it is very important to do your research and find a liver specialist you trust and have confidence in. You really need to like your doctor and this will help a lot to get through this in my opinion for what little it may be worth. My research narrowed to two doctors locally with one being the state's premiere liver doctor and the other doctor is head of the infectious disease department at a large metropolitan hospital that deals exclusively with HCV and AIDS and all the stubborn stuff. I have two that I trust and that way I can always get a second opinion.

I am into day 5 of sovaldi and ribavirin and I don't want to jinx myself but haven't had any side effects yet at all. Thank God!

I have been worried about ribavirin side effects.

Hi Sierrajen and welcome to the forum! You've come to the right place for information on everything HCV. As Jill mentioned, the new plans include many interesting possibilities that involve Sovaldi (Sofosbuvir) and combining it with other new drugs. The recent and new drug trials should impact the future very positively for most hepatitis patients in general. They actually already have! Hopefully future discovery will also determine a cost reducing formula as well.

You also asked about how to add the information to your posts. If you select "User Details" at the top of the page, you can enter your profile (personal info). Select the "signature" section and add the data you would like to share. It's a great way to share history, tests and progress. If you need any additional help, don't hesitate to ask.

I am probably the least qualified here to be giving information but I do believe that for gen 1a, peg-interferon-alfa is required with sovaldi and ribavirin for a 12 week period per Gilead's recommendation. I recall reading some posts about some possible better options coming down the pipe next year for gen1a but again, I will defer to the gurus. I am fortunate to have gen2b which by comparison is much easier to treat and achieve SVR.

You can add your info by editing your profile under the signature section under your account information.

Hello Larry

Welcome to the forum me me also, you will find a great group of helpful HepcFriends here, so just post and enjoy the insight and fun, humor and discussion.

matt

Hi and welcome Larry2384,

You have an excellent chance of SVR.  If you want further info on Sovaldi, check the Full Prescribing Information post in Knowledge Base-Useful Information.

I doubt whether HepC is responsible for the eye discoloration. This only happens in jaundice, where high Bilirubin causes a yellow tint to the sclera.

Diabetes type 2 is common in HepC, and is usually related to Insulin Resistance ( I.R.).  This is usually controlled by diet and exercise, and the A1C (Glycated Hb) should be kept below 6.5%. Only 10% of diabetes type 2 patients have a family history.  Surveys of patients after SVR show mixed results, but most agree that this decreases the I.R.    

Best of luck with Rx, but I'm sure you will be fine. Cheers.

Larry2384...I have been on Interf/Riba for 13 weeks.  I am very high strung and feisty also, so I really worried about the Riba Rage.   I noticed a little more irritability around 6 weeks, but I try really hard stay calm so it has not been to bad.  I have had a couple pretty bad rages at work, but they were at objects, not people.  I do notice little things bother me that didn't bother me before, but I constantly remind myself it is the medication.  Good luck, you will be fine.

I actually meant diabetes type 2. My understanding is that diabetes can be a symptom of hcv. It doesn't run in my family at all and I don't feel like I am a candidate to have it except for the HCV. I have been unable to find much information about this topic on the net. I am hoping to kill two birds with one stone with this treatment, so to speak. 

I was also wondering if anyone could tell me if my eyes would become white again after I become undetectable. My eyes haven't been white since I was seventeen years old.

There seems to be very little info about sovaldi and ribavirin trials on the internet except what Gilead wants you to know. I can't find any independent information or personal recounts of the treatment process from those who went through the process. Maybe patients had to sign waivers of secrecy in exchange for the treatment. I don't know but hope to get some information from this forum.

Thanks for responding!

Hi Larry,

I am on a Merck trial Without interferon but with ribavirin.  I also have type 2 diabetes.  My trial is 18 weeks.  At first, I felt much better but by now (in 14th week) the ribavirin is affecting my moods--nothing dramatic, just general irritability.

  My A1C was 6.5 going into treatment.  At week 6 got an A1C of 5.1 BUT think that was not accurate.  My coordinator said that being UND may improve diabetes.  I guess time will tell.  I have to go to my regular doctor for my Diabetes check and my insurance only pays for it every three months. 

Congratulations on starting treatment !!!  Everyone here is really helpful.  I use the clinical trial section often for info, but generally read all the new posts every morning. Look forward to your posts along your journey to SVR. 

SuziQ 

Hey Larry, welcome to the forum! This is a great bunch and we're here to help any way we can. Many questions can be answered by using the Search function at the top of each page. If you can't find an answer or just want to talk, please ask away!

I noticed you said you hoped the Sovaldi and Riba would cure your  type 2 Diabetes. I think you meant genotype 2 HCV, right? Your chance for SVR (cure) in GT2 is as Zlikster said, very high. It's one of the easiest to treat, lucky you!! As for Diabetes, I've seen many people mention dealing with it that also had HCV. There may be a link there somewhere but the jury is still out on that one. My glucose level really varied during treatment, it was slightly elevated throughout Tx but has started returning to normal post Tx. I hope that's the case with you as well. I wish you the best and hope you stick around as you progress. Good luck!

Hi Larry, welcome to the forum.  Congratulations on being our first member on Sovaldi treatment!

As it was only approved by the US FDA last week, all we know about it so far is from the clinical trials.  The most common sx from ribavirin include fatigue, headaches, itching and irritability, although it does vary quite a lot from person to person.  It`s likely to be a lot easier for you than the previous standard tx for genotype 2b though, which was the interferon and ribavirin combo.

By the way, did you have any problems with your medical insurance for Sovaldi, if you don`t mind me asking?

Best of luck, and please do keep up updated, we`ll be very interested in following your progress. Your chances of clearing the virus with this treatment are excellent!