Long-term study links Type 2 diabetes with cancer

A 27-year Danish study has revealed that women with Type 2 diabetes are almost twice as likely to develop cancer during their lifetime compared to men with the same condition. The research, conducted between 1996 and 2022, found that cancer incidence was 12% higher in men with Type 2 diabetes than in healthy men, but 22% higher in women with the disease than in non-diabetic women.

The study also noted that obesity-related cancers were 45% more common in men with Type 2 diabetes and 30% more common in women with the condition compared to those without diabetes between 2010 and 2022.

Dr. Tinne Laurberg, who led the research at the Steno Diabetes Centre at Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark, emphasized the growing cancer burden among people with Type 2 diabetes and the importance of prioritizing cancer prevention and early detection as part of long-term diabetes care. She specifically highlighted the need to encourage greater participation in existing screening programs for common obesity-related cancers, such as colorectal and postmenopausal breast cancer.

The study used data from nationwide health registries in Denmark to examine the relationship between diabetes and cancer, including cancers linked to obesity and non-obesity-linked cancers like lung or prostate cancer. Since 2016, cancer has become the leading cause of death among people with Type 2 diabetes in Denmark and other high-income countries.

In the United Arab Emirates, where diabetes affects around 20% of the population, diabetes and cancer are among the top five most common causes of death, according to World Health Organisation figures.

Dr. Mohamad Azzam Ziade, an oncologist at Medcare Royal Specialty Hospital in the UAE, stressed that while having Type 2 diabetes does not automatically mean someone will develop cancer, the relationship between the two conditions is complex and influenced by various factors. He emphasized that managing diabetes, maintaining a healthy weight, staying physically active, eating a balanced diet, and adhering to recommended cancer screening can all contribute to long-term health.

Dr. Ziade also noted that some cancer treatments can temporarily raise blood glucose levels, and cancer treatment may affect appetite, weight, activity levels, and eating patterns, potentially requiring adjustments to diabetes medication.