What is common with diabetes and cancer

Both diabetes and cancer are prevalent diseases whose incidences  are increasing globally.

Worldwide, cancer is the 2nd and diabetes is the 12th leading cause of death. Cancer and diabetes are diagnosed within the same individual more frequently than would be expected by chance, even after adjusting for age. For more than 50 years, clinicians have reported the occurrence of patients with concurrent diabetes and cancer.

The relative risks imparted by diabetes are greatest (approximately2-fold or higher) for cancers of the liver, pancreas, and endometrium,and lesser (approximately 1.2-fold to 1.5- fold) for cancers of the colon/rectum, breast, and bladder.

Risk factors (modifiable and nonmodifiable) common to both cancer and diabetes include age, sex, obesity, physical inactivity, diet, alcohol, and smoking. The incidence of most cancers increases with age. In economically developed countries, approximately 78% of all newly diagnosed cancers  occurs  among  individuals aged 55 years and older.Diabetes  also becomes increasingly common with age.

Obesity  is associated with an increased risk of some cancers, breast cancer in particular. There is evidence that weight loss lowers disease risk.

Diets low in red and processed meats and higher in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains  and dietary fibre are associated with a lower risk of many types of cancers and against type 2 diabetes, possibly by improving insulin sensitivity..

Higher levels of physical activity are associated with a lower risk of colon cancer.

Tobacco smoking accounts for71% of all trachea, bronchus, and lung cancer deaths

Alcohol consumption, even in moderate amounts, increases the risk of many types of cancer including those of the oralcavity, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, liver, colon/rectum, and female breast. Although excess alcohol consumption is also a risk factor for diabetes, moderate alcohol consumption has been associated with reduced diabetes incidence in both men and women.

Treatment with metformin (compared with other glucose-loweringtherapies) is associated with a reduced risk of cancer and cancer mortality