Cancer and Diabetes Connection

There are a few testimonials from actual patients with diabetes that after 20 years of having type 2, they were diagnosed with cancer. The question still remains, is there any direct connection between diabetes and cancer?

Experts say that you have a 20-50% higher chance of getting cancer as compared to people without diabetes and the worse is, if you have both, life expectancy becomes extremely shorter. Why? It is because given the complications of diabetes like obesity and cardiovascular diseases, cancer can add risks because the treatment for it is toxic and may cause further harm to the heart and other organs of the body. It can suppress your immune system while you are trying to battle against the odds of diabetes.

In addition, normal metabolic process is disordered when a person gains excess weight. It leads to chronic inflammation and insulin resistance which results to high levels of circulating insulin within the body after a few years. Experts claim that when a body has relatively high levels of insulin, it can intensify growth of cancer cells and development of new blood vessels which nourishes cancer tumors. Moreover, if you are obese, you surely have low levels of adiponectin which is a hormone secreted by adipose tissue. With this condition, you are again adding chances to developing cancer. Another reason is the long-term use of medications that can lower blood glucose. They are also known to increase risks of getting cancer. Now, what do you need to do?

Cancer and diabetes have common risk factors like age, sex and family history. However, there are other things that you can control by staying healthy, getting fit and maintaining a normal weight.

Attain your desired healthy weight

Cutting excess fats can prevent insulin resistance and lower your blood glucose that can lead to taking off higher risk of cancer cells development. You actually don’t need to be too thin because that is also dangerous. You just have to cut what is excessive. It is not only helpful for cancer and diabetes but in your total well-being too.

Increase plants in the diet

This is a very good option because vegetables and fruits are naturally healthy and they are known to have high contents of fiber and phytochemicals which are weapons of the body in killing carcinogens. Experts also recommend low consumption of processed meat as the preparation like salting and smoking have links to cancer.

Alcohol intake must be decreased

Actually, you just don’t need to limit it. It is better to eliminate this from your system because alcohol is a common cause of some cancers and when taken in excess, it also damages your vital organs.

Exercise more often

Working out is actually not a medication or treatment, it is more of a prevention. You don’t have to be obese or overweight to be a candidate for getting a regular exercise. Being fit is generally healthy with or without diseases. It can help you lower chances of complications like heart ailments.

Quit smoking

Smoking is the strongest factor in getting lung cancer but it can also lead to bladder, kidney, pancreas and liver cancer. Quit before it is too late.