Type 2 Diabetes and Cancer

[carina62]

Are we diabetics more prone to get cancer? As if it's not bad enough having diabetes , it's noted and I've read it quite a number of times that cancer cells thrive on sugar so does having diabetes mean we are more at risk of cancer?

 

[Bluetit1802]

There are hundreds of different cancers, and even with breast cancer there are dozens of sub-types. I only know about breast cancer, but the most common type feeds on oestrogen and/or progesterone. The second most common feeds on a particular human growth protein. Neither is known to feed on sugar. The other types have no known "food". I cannot speak for other types of cancer.

 

[kokhongw]

What is currently known is that cancer cells generally requires lots of glucose to grow...hence
http://www.petscaninfo.com/zportal/portals/pat/cancer

Before a PET/CT scan, the patient receives an intravenous injection of radioactive glucose. Many cancer cells are highly metabolic and rapidly synthesize the radioactive glucose. Information regarding the location of abnormal levels of radioactive glucose obtained from the whole-body PET/CT scan helps physicians effectively pinpoint the source of cancer and detect whether cancer is isolated to one specific area or has spread to other organs.

That doesn't mean that high level of glucose cause cancer...but it does provide the conditions/environment for rapid growth for many lines of cancer.

Here is a recent paper that discuss the observation that Chronically high insulin levels (hyperinsulinemia) common among prediabetes/type2 diabetes is an important factor:-
Obesity and cancer: biological links and treatment implications.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28359241

Hyperinsulinemia and Insulin-like Growth Factors (IGFs) are among the most important links between cancer and obesity. However, adipose tissue (AT) produces also sex hormones, pro-inflammatory cytokines and hypoxia which in turn promote initiation and progression of tumors.

 

[AndBreathe]

Are we diabetics more prone to get cancer? As if it's not bad enough having diabetes , it's noted and I've read it quite a number of times that cancer cells thrive on sugar so does having diabetes mean we are more at risk of cancer?

Carina, there are so many factors impact on any given individual's risk of developing cancer, whether or not they have diabetes. Some of those factors are genetic, some lifestyle related (e.g. smoking) and some environmental.

To be honest, I haven't spent a huge amount of time researching the issue, but spent that time getting myself as healthy as I can and trying hard to stay that way.

I do believe that any diabetic diagnosed with a cancer would be well advised to take great care to keep their blood sugars in as good a place as they can, to minimise and potential impacts.

 

[Resurgam]

Yes, there are some forms of cancer which can only use glucose for energy, so keeping blood glucose low and being in ketosis could potentially slow the development of such cancers.
However, having high blood glucose levels would not mean that you were more likely to develop cancer.

Edited to amend content, to align with Community Rules and Ethos

 

[kokhongw]

 

[Brunneria]

I do believe that any diabetic diagnosed with a cancer would be well advised to take great care to keep their blood sugars in as good a place as they can, to minimise and potential impacts.

This is exactly how i feel about the subject.

The causes of cancer are so diverse and so individual that generalisations are impossible. But if i am ever in the unfortunate position of facing such a diagnosis, i would be looking towards very strict control of blood glucose via ketosis. And I'd be doing some heavy duty reading on fasting, re-feeding and such. Plus anything else I can discover, including making sure that my nutrients (especially Vit D3 and K2) are at optimum levels.

 

[douglas99]

It may depend on how you decide to control your BG .

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/12/161207132117.htm

 

[Struma]

What is currently known is that cancer cells generally requires lots of glucose to grow...hence
http://www.petscaninfo.com/zportal/portals/pat/cancer


That doesn't mean that high level of glucose cause cancer...but it does provide the conditions/environment for rapid growth for many lines of cancer.

Here is a recent paper that discuss the observation that Chronically high insulin levels (hyperinsulinemia) common among prediabetes/type2 diabetes is an important factor:-
Obesity and cancer: biological links and treatment implications.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28359241

This is a nice piece describing PET scans.
I wonder though, whether you've may be misinterpreting something.
It is because cancer cells are more highly active that they use a little more glucose, it is in fact a very small amount.

You do get false positives on PET, where other highly active cells take up the radioactive glucose on occasions.

 

[Resurgam]

If you believe scientist on BBC radio 4, there is a sub set of cancers which can only use glucose for growth - not ketones. The amounts of hormones available might stimulate growth, but they are not a source of energy - only glucose enables those particular cancers to grow.

 

[kokhongw]

It is because cancer cells are more highly active that they use a little more glucose, it is in fact a very small amount

If you have the interest and the time, do go thru the video link above. Dr Dawn Lemanne does give a balance presentation of when carbs restrictions seems to be most effective. Some cancer cells can require up to 20 times more glucose...

 

[NatJS]

I think the cancer link is less to do with sugar and more to do with high insulin. Insulin is a growth hormone, and an associated hormone that definitely has a role in cancer is IGF1, which apparently is typically elevated when insulin is elevated. In type 2 diabetics insulin is chronically high, so that somewhat helps to explain the risk. Makes you wonder why more treatment is not geared towards lowering insulin and treating the insulin resistance! Cancer risk does decrease quite a bit when taking metformin.