Diabetes is one of the fastest growing diseases in the United States, affecting 9.3 percent of the population. While coming with its own set of complications, diabetes can also make you prone to developing other diseases. Individuals with type 2 diabetes have a higher risk of developing several types of cancer, according to a study published in the journal, Cancer. People who have diabetes are more likely to develop cancer either before or immediately after they are diagnosed with diabetes. This is especially true with colon cancer.
What is the connection between a metabolic disease and cancer of the bowel?
The link between diabetes and colon cancer may be stronger because the two diseases share common risk factors such as obesity, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, alcohol use, and increased red meat intake. Colon cancer also tends to be less treatable in individuals who have type 2 diabetes. Researchers also suggest that there might be a biological link between diabetes and colon cancer, or that the treatments for diabetes may affect the development of or diagnosis of cancer.
Do more doctor visits mean more disease diagnoses?
Colon cancer being diagnosed immediately after a diabetes diagnosis could be due to the fact that patients are in regular contact with their doctors, but could other factors be involved as well? Dr. Iliana Lega and researchers from the University of Toronto sought to find more information regarding the connection between colon cancer and diabetes, especially in regard to timing.
Dr. Lega looked at 1 million adults to assess cancer diagnoses at various points in their lives. Patients with diabetes (compared to those without diabetes) were 1.23 times more likely to have been diagnosed with cancer in the ten years before they were diagnosed with diabetes. Patients who were diagnosed with diabetes were also more likely to be diagnosed with cancer within the next three months. After three months, there was not a significant increase.
Dr. Lega believes that diabetes and cancer diagnoses may go hand in hand because of additional screening that follows a disease diagnosis. She also adds that lifestyle changes like getting regular exercise and eating a diet that is high in fruits and vegetables, fiber and lean proteins could help reduce diabetes and cancer incidence (Source: Medical News Today).
"There is excellent evidence that diabetes can be prevented and that metabolic changes leading to diabetes can be reversed with lifestyle changes. Similarly, diet and exercise interventions have also been shown to reduce cancer risk and improve cancer outcomes in the general population."
Do you ever wonder if you are just wasting your time when you exercise or try to eat healthy? If you are not dropping pounds or pant sizes in spite of good nutrition and exercise, don’t get discouraged. Staying active and eating nutritious foods are helping prevent diseases like diabetes, and maybe even colon cancer!