Factors outside diabetes contribute to obesity-related cancer

A recent study conducted in the United Kingdom indicates that Diabetes is not the cause of the growing number of Obesity and alcohol-related Cancers. Researchers published their findings in the May issue of the British Journal of Cancer.

Multiple theories exist regarding the causes and risks associated with developing Cancer. Possible causes include nutrition, certain medical conditions, lifestyle, environmental exposures, weight, physical activity, radiation exposure, medications and genetics. These topics continue to be the focus of intense research as more is learned about the development of Cancer.

While a link has been established between type 2 diabetes and an elevated risk for several types of Cancers, the effect of type 1 diabetes remains uncertain.

Type 2 diabetes - Noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus Type 2 diabetes is a chronic, life-long disease that results when the body's insulin does not work effectively. Insulin is a hormone released by the pancreas in response to increased levels of blood sugar (glucose) in the blood.

More information: Type 2 diabetes - Noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

This recent study evaluated 28,900 patients in the UK who were insulin-dependent diabetics and compared their cancer incidence and death rate with national averages. In order to analyze diabetes by type, researchers examined 28,834 patients diagnosed with diabetes before the age of thirty who most likely had type 1 diabetes. The remaining 5066 patients had been diagnosed between the ages of thirty and forty-nine and were mainly type 2 diabetics.
Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus - Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus
Type 1 diabetes mellitus, more commonly known as type 1 diabetes, is a disease in which the pancreas produces too little insulin to meet the body's needs. Insulin is a hormone that helps control the level of glucose in the blood. Glucose is the main form of sugar in the body.

What are the causes and risks of the disease?

The underlying cause of type 1 diabetes is damage to the pancreas caused by the person's own antibodies. It's not known why this occurs in some people and not others. Experts believe that it may be caused by an autoimmune disorder. An autoimmune disorder occurs when the body's immune system produces antibodies against the person's own tissues. In a person with type 1 diabetes, the antibodies attack the pancreas. The pancreas is a long, thin organ located behind the stomach. As a result, the pancreas can no longer make enough insulin to meet the body's needs.More information: