Connection Between Pancreatic Cancer and Diabetes: Not Only Pancreas

The pancreas function as both endocrine and exocrine gland organ located in the posterior abdomen near the gallbladder. It produces and releases hormones and digestive enzymes such as Insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin.

Statistics of pancreatic cancer and diabetes :

Globally rate of occurrence of Pancreatic Cancer is 5.5 per 100,000 for men and 4.0 per 100,000 women are suffering from pancreatic cancer. It is more common in women than men possibly due to lifestyle risk factors such as smoking and high alcohol intake or maybe incidence of pancreatic cancer depend upon the genetic factors that are not discovered yet.

About 442 million people globally  and the majority of people having diabetes are living in underdeveloped countries and there are 1.6 million deaths each year due to diabetes worldwide

The bond between pancreatic cancer and diabetes is explained :

Diabetes and pancreatic cancer both affects your pancreas. People who are suffering from diabetes are more likely to develop pancreatic cancer and people having pancreatic cancer have a high risk of developing diabetes

According to clinical research that Type 2 diabetes is associated with a 1.5 to 2 times more  risk of  develop cancer of pancreas.

Pancreatic cancer is defined as the formation, growth and spread of cancerous tumors in the pancreas.  pancreatic cancer can cause diabetes as 50% of patients with pancreatic cancer have high blood sugar levels than normal. So when cancerous tumors were surgically removed, blood sugar levels become normal.

Cause of pancreatic cancer:

Major causes of pancreatic cancer are Gallstones and heavy alcohol intake are usually the cause of pancreatitis. The chance of having pancreatic cancer increases due to following reasons

• Any Medication side effects (may affect your pancreas).
• High triglyceride levels in your blood

How to diagnose pancreatic cancer in diabetic patients.

Pancreatic cancer often has unclear or no symptoms. People usually have back pain and indigestion. People think of things first before they can find that they should go check for pancreatic cancer. Diabetes is one of the major symptoms in people suffering from Pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer can cause body cells to show resistance against a key hormone of the body, insulin that regulates blood sugar levels in our body.

Pancreatic cancer destroys beta cells that are Insulin-producing cells in our body and stops Insulin production that causes Diabetes.

Early symptoms of pancreatic cancer can be newly diagnosed diabetes and is an opportunity for detection and treatment of pancreatic cancer.

The alarming situation for people diagnosed with diabetes :

The chance of having pancreatic cancer in diabetic patients is less than 1%. The  risk of pancreatic cancer increases  2 years after on set of diabetes and people who are suffering from diabetes for more than five years can be at a  higher than average risk of diagnosing pancreatic cancer, as discussed above.

But people have 1% chance of developing pancreatic cancer after age of 50 years after three years of being diagnosed  with new diabetes after age. In this case, pancreatic cancer can cell cause diabetes.

Lifestyle changes to prevent diabetes and pancreatic carcinoma:

Some lifestyle changes and overall care of your health may reduce your risk of developing pancreatic cancer and diabetes.

• Avoid smoking: Smoking increases your risk for development of pancreatic cancer.
• Reduce alcohol intake: Drinking alcohol may increase your chance for diabetes and pancreatic cancer
• Manage your weight: Overweight and obesity is a major risk factor for cancer, diabetes and many other chronic diseases.

Emil Rodriguez