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How does diabetes influence cancer risk?
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Diabetes is known to increase the risk for various types of cancer.
The association is particularly evident among individuals with type 2 diabetes.
Increased cancer risk
Research suggests people with diabetes have at least twice the risks for endometrium, liver and pancreas cancers compared with those who do not have diabetes. Similarly, diabetes is associated with at least a 1.5-fold higher risk for colon, rectum, breast and bladder cancers.
However, men with diabetes are less likely to develop prostate cancer.
It has been suggested that certain diabetes-associated factors — such as steatosis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and cirrhosis — increase the risk for liver cancer. Moreover, epidemiological data have indicated that people with diabetes and cancer may be at increased risk for death.
Experts are unsure as to whether the association between diabetes and cancer is direct or indirect. Although it is likely that obesity may be a common risk factor between cancer and diabetes, other biological mechanisms — including hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia and inflammation — may explain the association.
Shared risk factors
Certain cancers share multiple risk factors with type 2 diabetes. These include:
- age — the risk of both type 2 diabetes and cancer rises as people get older;
- gender — men are at slightly higher risk for diabetes than women, and cancer occurs more often in men;
- ethnicity — African Americans and non-Hispanic whites are at higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes and cancer;
- being overweight can increase the risk for type 2 diabetes and certain cancers;
- inactivity has been linked to developing both type 2 diabetes and certain cancers;
- smoking; and
- alcohol overuse.
Additional information may be found at this website: http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/33/7/1674.long
http://www.diabetes.org/are-you-at-risk/lower-your-risk/diabetes-and-cancer.html