Colon cancer risk increased by diabetes, says study

New research has supported the claim that people suffering from type 2 diabetes are at an increased risk of developing colon cancer.
The scientists examined data from 14 international observational studies carried out between 1990 and 2009, which they published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, revealing that diabetics had 38 per cent more chance of being diagnosed with colon cancer than people without the metabolic condition. It was also found that there was a 20 per cent rise in the risk of rectal cancer, but that this was only for men.
Lead researcher Hiroki Yuhara, from the University of California, Berkeley, commented “These data suggest that diabetes mellitus is an independent risk factor for colon and rectal cancer.”
However, the reasons behind the link behind some aspect of diabetes contributing to colon cancer are still not clear, and the results are not proof that diabetes directly contributes to colon cancer in some people.
The report also argued that diabetics should not seek colon cancer screening any more than people who are not diabetic. It is currently recommended that the majority of people should start screening from the age of 50, although those with specific risk factors (which does not include diabetes) for colon cancer should start screening at an earlier date.