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There is new research out tonight that affects the 17 million Americans suffering from diabetes. The study says diabetics with high blood sugars are at a significantly higher risk for developing cancer.
The study looked at more than a million people. It found that being a diabetic with poor sugar control increases the risk of gastrointestinal cancers, especially among men.
“I feel good every day, I want to lose more weight I lost about 25 pounds but I need to lose more.” Janet Cadogan is a great example of someone who has attacked her diagnosis of diabetes head-on. “I watch my diet I used a lot of fruit I use plain yogurt and I don’t use sugar.”
Janet knows by keeping her blood sugar down, she can prevent the complications of diabetes, such as heart disease, kidney failure and blindness.
Now, perhaps, add to the list of preventable complications: cancer.
Yes, it appears diabetes is now a significant risk for the development of several forms of cancer. New research in the latest Journal of the American Medical Association examined the relationship between fasting serum blood sugar and diabetes and the risk of cancers in men and women.
Men with blood sugars greater than 140 had a nearly thirty percent increased risk for death from all cancers. Among women, the risk was 23 percent higher compared to those with the lowest blood sugars, like Janet.
Dr. Maryanne Banerji is director of the diabetes treatment center at Suny Downstate Medical Center. “Although 30 percent doesn’t seem like much it is, really a very large increase, particularly if you multiply it out over the number of people who have diabetes in the world.”
The association was strongest for pancreatic cancer, but significant associations were also found for cancers of the esophagus, liver, and colon/rectum in men and of the liver and cervix in women. The likely root of the problem: obesity, which causes diabetes, and which has already been linked to cancer.
But Janet says, “You can live with diabetes and live a normal life. It says it has to be high levels, if you maintain normal levels it’s just like any other complication of diabetes, kidney failure, poor circulation.”
They are all completely preventable with good diabetes control.
“Increase one’s physical activity decrease one’s dietary excess, and live a healthy life I think that’s what it’s really pointing out,” says Dr. Banjeri.
The researchers negated the effects of alcohol and smoking in the study, leaving the cancer death risk solely to diabetes.
Experts believe what’s needed now is to set up a large study to show if you decrease the prevalence of diabetes, you can decrease the prevalence of cancer as well.
Dr. Banjeri says to aggressively pursue programs to help get into the best possible shape, and get the long term blood sugar levels, or Hb-A1c levels down to normal. That means, again, exercise, and a proper diet. You should talk to your doctor about making sure you’re up to date in all cancer screenings as well.
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