We all know that diabetes could lead to several medical complications. High blood sugar levels and thicker blood consistency can result in cardiovascular diseases and retinopathy, nerve damage and skin problems. Diabetes also increases the risks for foot gangrene and amputation.

A 2010 consensus report also showed that there is a link between diabetes and cancer. It suggests that diabetics have a higher risk of developing cancer.

What Causes Cancer?

According to the study, increased insulin levels may have the potential to affect the development of cancer. This increase in insulin level or hyperinsulinemia is often brought about by two factors – insulin resistance and the administration of insulin. Now, high insulin levels activate more insulin receptors. When stimulated, they affect the proliferation and metastasis of cancer cells, in addition to its beneficial metabolic functions.

Hyperglycemia (high glucose levels in the blood) also encourages vascular growth, and abnormal vascular growth is one of the characteristics of cancer. The cancer cells grow and develop blood vessels, which will then supply them with the nutrients they need to grow, proliferate, and metastasize.

Finally, chronic inflammation also plays a major role in cancer development by stimulating different pathways responsible for the malignant progression of cancer cells.

Higher Risk for Cancer Development

Diabetes Research WA, a diabetes research group based in West Australia, warns that there is, indeed, a link between diabetes and cancer. Their studies revealed that diabetic people have a higher risk of developing breast and bowel cancers as well as liver, bladder, and pancreatic cancers by as high as 70%.

Fighting Diabetes

Most people aren’t aware of the link between diabetes and cancer. They should be made aware of this connection through proper education so lifestyle changes can be made to not only help reduce the increasing rate of diabetes but slow the rate of cancer as well.