Diabetes and Pancreatic Cancer Is There Any Link

Pancreas is an organ that’s found deep in abdomen between the stomach and spine. It simplifies proper food digestion and regulates blood sugar levels by introducing the hormone insulin into the bloodstream. If pancreas isn't working the way it should be or body can't use the insulin it makes, the blood sugar levels get too high, and a individual become diabetic. There is a connection between diabetes and other conditions of the pancreas, like pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer. Also, diabetes increases the risk of several others cancers, such as colorectal, endometrial, renal, breast, liver, and pancreatic cancer, by a factor of two. Let us understand the link between diabetes and pancreatic cancer.

Diabetes and Pancreatic Cancer Is There Any Link

 

Pancreas is an organ that’s found deep in abdomen between the stomach and spine. It simplifies proper food digestion and regulates blood sugar levels by introducing the hormone insulin into the bloodstream. If pancreas isn't working the way it should be or  body can't use the insulin it makes, the blood sugar levels get too high, and a individual become diabetic.
 

There is a connection between diabetes and other conditions of the pancreas, like pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer. Also, diabetes increases the risk of several others cancers, such as colorectal, endometrial, renal, breast, liver, and pancreatic cancer, by a factor of two. Let us understand the link between diabetes and pancreatic cancer.

The Link Between Diabetes and Pancreatic Cancer

Diabetes is a group of diseases that cause high blood sugar (glucose), also known as hyperglycemia.

The connection between diabetes and pancreatic cancer is a two-way street, with one influencing the risk of the other. According to an study published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology in 2021, the risk of pancreatic cancer in those with diabetes can be up to twice that of the general population.

Also, pancreatic cancer leads to new-onset diabetes. Pancreatic cancer not only shortens survival periods but also causes new-onset diabetes.

 

How Diabetes Causes Pancreas Cancer and vice-versa

There is a cause-and-effect link between diabetes and pancreatic cancer. Because diabetes raises blood sugar levels, it damages pancreatic cells in ways that can result in cancer. Conversely, pancreatic cancer can lead to diabetes by impairing the pancreas' primary function of producing the hormone insulin, which controls blood sugar levels.

 

When someone has type 1 diabetes, their pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin to control blood sugar levels. When a person has type 2 diabetes, their body no longer reacts to insulin as it should, especially the liver, which makes and stores glucose.

Insulin serves various purposes within the body. Firstly, it makes room for glucose to enter cells, which gives them energy. Secondly, it enhances the liver's ability to absorb glucose for later use. When these processes are hampered, blood glucose levels might increase dangerously.

Factors that contribute to pancreatic cancer

 

• Having exceeded 45
• Chronically ill with diabetes (30 years or longer)
• Managing diabetes with insulin or sulfonylureas
• Having a history of diabetes in the family

 

Factors that cause pancreatic cancer in people with new-onset diabetes include:

• Having exceeded fifty
• Being underweight when one is diagnosed with diabetes
• Insulin usage rising in spite of weight loss
• Having a history of pancreatic cancer in your family
• Having a past medical history of pancreatitis, cholecystitis, or gallstones
  
  

Hence, pancreatic cancer is "invisible" until it has progressed. As a matter of fact, the majority of cases are diagnosed after the cancer has spread to other areas.
Diabetes, especially diabetes with recent onset, is not a reason to get a pancreatic cancer screening. Nevertheless, a method based on scores has been suggested by certain medical professionals, whereby individuals with new-onset diabetes may be investigated based on their age, the degree of weight loss, and the increase in blood sugar.
If you're unsure about your risk for pancreatic cancer, consult a medical professional. Talk to a diabetes or nutrition expert for more information about managing your condition.

If you have any questions regarding diabetes or pancreatic cancer, you can check with our physician at Ask a doctor, 24x7.