Khaberni - A new Danish study reveals a link between type 2 diabetes and an increased risk of several types of cancer, including breast, bowel, and lung cancer.
The study showed that women with type 2 diabetes were 22% more likely to develop cancer compared to those without diabetes, while the risk for men increased by 12%.
The link was more evident in cancers associated with obesity, such as kidney, pancreas, and liver cancer, where the risk increased by 45% for men with diabetes, and by 30% for women.
The risk of developing bowel cancer also increased by approximately 17% for those with diabetes, while the risk of developing lung cancer increased by up to 25%.
The results were presented at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, after researchers tracked cancer cases among those with and without type 2 diabetes in Denmark between 1996 and 2022.
Over 27 years, researchers observed 75,540 cancer cases among those with diabetes, compared to 635,323 cases among those without. The data showed that women with diabetes faced an 8% higher risk of breast cancer, while the risk of bowel cancer for men increased by 17%.
Conversely, men with diabetes were 19% less likely to develop prostate cancer compared to those without the disease. The risk of developing lung cancer for women with diabetes increased by 25% during the period between 2010 and 2022, after having been 12% lower during the period from 1996 to 2009.
These findings come amid increasing rates of type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cancer, especially among younger demographics. Cancer diagnosis rates for individuals aged between 25 and 50 years have risen by about a quarter over two decades, while obesity rates have doubled during the same period.
Researchers believe that excess body fat may contribute to an increased risk of cancer by raising hormone levels and growth signals, including insulin, while high levels of sugar and insulin and chronic inflammation may also play a role in this link.
Dr. Tina Loreberg, who was involved in the study, stated that the results highlight the importance of prioritizing cancer prevention for those with type 2 diabetes, especially cancers linked to obesity, such as colorectal and postmenopausal breast cancer.
However, researchers emphasized that the study shows a link between diabetes and cancer but does not prove that diabetes directly causes cancer. The study also did not include some important risk factors, such as body weight, smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity, which might explain part of the differences observed.
Experts affirm that maintaining a healthy weight, engaging in regular physical activity, and following a balanced diet can help reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and some types of cancer.
