Diabetes increases colorectal cancer risk

Posted by Kate Murphy on November 3rd, 2005

*Information from the 2005 American College of Gastroenterology Scientific Meeting*

Diabetics are 40% more likely than people without diabetes to develop colorectal cancer according to a [study reported on Monday](http://www.acg.gi.org/media/releases/ACG05Release_DiabetesRiskforCRC.pdf) at the [Annual Scientific Meeting](http://www.acg.gi.org/physicians/meetings/annualmtg/05meeting/program.asp#scientific) of the American College of Gastroenterology in Honolulu.

Researchers from Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston analyzed information from nearly 227,000 responses to the [National Health Information Survey](http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis.htm) from 1997-2003. About 6% of people in those studies had diabetes.

After adjusting for other factors that influence the development of colorectal cancer including age, gender, race, obesity, alcohol and tobacco use, and physical activity the researchers concluded that people with diabetes have a risk of colorectal cancer 1.4 times those without the disease.

In an interview with [Reuter's Health](http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=healthNews&storyID=2005-11-03T003801Z_01_KRA302240_RTRIDST_0_HEALTH-DIABETICS-CANCER-DC.XML&archived=False) Dr. Donald Garrow from the research team explained that receptors for insulin are present on colon tissue and that is is possible that high levels of insulin create changes in colon cells that lead to colorectal cancer. He also told Reuters that cell culture studies suggest high blood sugar levels promote colorectal cancer growth.

Garrow said that the team is now evaluating whether or not diabetics need to begin colorectal cancer screening earlier than those at average risk and whether controlling blood glucose can make a difference in the development of colorectal cancer.

Read more articles about the study report on [*Medpage Today*](http://www.medpagetoday.com/Gastroenterology/ColonCancer/tb1/2052) and [Forbes.com](http://www.forbes.com/health/feeds/hscout/2005/11/01/hscout528835.html).

Comments (2): Add a comment

2 Responses to “Diabetes increases colorectal cancer risk”

April 14, 2009 at 12:17 pm, aaron said:

are people who are at risk for diabetes at risk for colon cancer?
April 14, 2009 at 12:48 pm, Kate Murphy said:

Some of the same risk factors for diabetes — obesity and low levels of exercise — are also risk factors for colorectal cancer.

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