Type 2 diabetes linked to increased cancer risk, study finds

A study conducted by Danish scientists reveals that individuals with type 2 diabetes face a significantly higher risk of developing various cancers. Findings presented at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes indicate that women with type 2 diabetes have a 22% higher probability of developing cancer compared to those without the disease, while men face a 12% increased risk.

The risk is particularly pronounced for obesity-related cancers. Men with type 2 diabetes are 45% more likely to develop kidney, pancreatic, or liver cancers, while women face a 30% higher risk for these specific types. Additionally, bowel cancer was found to be approximately 17% more common among diabetes sufferers, and lung cancer rates were up to 25% higher.

Researchers noted that cancer diagnoses among adults aged 25 to 50 have increased by about one-quarter over the last two decades, a trend linked to doubling obesity rates. Dr. Tinne Laurberg, a co-author of the study and consultant pathologist at the Steno Diabetes Center, emphasized the necessity of ‘prioritising cancer prevention’ for patients living with type 2 diabetes.