Diabetes Raises Colon Cancer Risk
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Diabetes Raises Colon Cancer Risk
According to a recent study done at the University of South Carolina by Dr. Donald Garrow, people with diabetes have a greater risk for getting colon cancer than non-diabetics. The list of complications for people with diabetes, which includes and increased risk for heart disease, kidney failure, as well as, eye and foot trouble - now have to also be concerned with colon cancer.
"Diabetics are 1.4 times more likely to have been told they have colon cancer," says Dr. Donald Garrow, a clinical instructor and masters in clinical research fellow at the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston.
Dr. Garrow states that other studies have found the same association, but he believes his study is the largest cross-sectional survey to evaluate the question of whether diabetics face a higher colorectal cancer risk. The study involved data on more than 226,000 Americans between the years of 1997-2003.
The majority of the people surveyed had type 2 diabetes. There is data on type 1 diabetics in the study. However, type 1 diabetics represented a small minority in the study.
Diabetes Population
According the American Diabetes Association, an estimated 15 million people in the United States are currently diagnosed with diabetes. The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 145,000 new cases of colorectal cancer are expected to be diagnosed in the United States this year, and more than 56,000 patients will die from the disease.
The study highlights the fact that diabetics must be careful to follow colorectal cancer screening guidelines. The American Cancer Society now recommends that, beginning at age 50, men and women at average risk should be screened for colon disease by a medical professional.