Diabetics face significantly higher risks of colorectal cancer

Doctors and diabetics take note: This is something you should be on the lookout for.

The title of a report from a recent meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology neatly sums up an important warning for all diabetics: “New Study Confirms Diabetics Face Significantly Higher Risks Of Colorectal Cancer.”

Researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina used data gathered over a seven-year period as part of the National Health Interview Survey. An analysis of health profiles from nearly 227,000 subjects showed that diabetics had almost one-and-a-half times greater risk of colon cancer compared to people who were not diabetic.

One of the authors of the study, Donald Garrow, M.D., offered this advice: “Diabetics should pay particular attention to their doctor’s recommendations for colorectal screening.”

The report didn’t designate diabetic types, and the study hasn’t been published yet, so for now we’ll have to assume that Dr. Garrow and his team are referring to both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Meanwhile, diabetics can check this past Monday’s e-Alert (“Five Guardians” 12/5/05) for information on how they might help prevent colorectal polyps from developing into cancer.

Sources:
“New Study Confirms Diabetics Face Significantly Higher Risks Of Colorectal Cancer” American College of Gastroenterology, 11/1/05, sciencedaily.com