Type 2 Diabetes and Cancer Risk

A new study has found that people who are recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes have a higher risk of certain cancers, especially liver and pancreatic cancer. The study also shows that women may be affected more than men.

Researchers looked at health data from 95,000 people. They compared those who had just been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes to those who didn’t have it. What they found was surprising:

• Women with type 2 diabetes were almost 5 times more likely to get liver cancer, and 2 times more likely to get pancreatic cancer.
• Men with diabetes had a 4 times higher risk of liver cancer and a 74% higher risk of pancreatic cancer.
• The risk of bowel cancer was also higher—34% more in women and 27% more in men with diabetes.

The researchers say that not all cancers were linked to diabetes. For example, women with diabetes were not more likely to get breast or womb cancer. But overall, the study found that diabetes raises the risk of many obesity-related cancers, even after accounting for body weight.

Why does this happen?

Experts aren’t fully sure yet. But they believe it could be due to:

• High blood sugar levels
• High insulin levels
• Long-term inflammation in the body
• Differences in hormones and body fat between men and women

The study also found that the increased cancer risk remains even five years after diagnosis. That means it’s not just a short-term effect from getting extra medical tests when first diagnosed.

So, what can people do?

While we can’t change our medical history, we can take steps to lower cancer risk, including:

• Eating a balanced diet
• Staying active
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Avoiding smoking and cutting back on alcohol

In short: If you have type 2 diabetes, this study is a reminder to take extra care of your health. Doctors and researchers are still learning more, but healthy lifestyle choices can help protect your body in many ways—including lowering your risk for cancer.