Diabetes Ups the Risk of Dying From Cancers, Heart Attacks or Strokes

Heart Attacks and Strokes are caused by high blood glucose levels

Diabetes is an endocrine disease. It is caused when the amount of insulin produced by the pancreas is not enough to meet the body’s requirement or when the body is not able to utilize the insulin produced by the pancreas properly. Whatever be the cause, the end result is that there is an increased level of glucose in the blood while the body cells do not get the energy required by them. Almost all the complications of diabetes, including heart attacks and strokes are caused by the high blood glucose levels. These complications can be severe enough to prove fatal.

The nerves and the blood vessels are damaged over a period of time, by the high glucose levels. The high glucose level results in increased deposits of plaque, a collection of fatty material, in the lumen of the blood vessels. This can lead to the clogging and stiffening of the blood vessels, a process better known as “atherosclerosis”. In diabetics, the heart muscles have to work extra to burn off the excess fat. But the blood flow to its muscles is hampered because of the atherosclerotic plaques in the coronary arteries, the main blood vessels of the heart. This increases the chances of sudden heart attack and heart failure.

People with diabetes are twice more prone to develop a heart attack and that too at a younger age. Most of the strokes are also caused because of the impairment of the blood supply to the brain cells due to these atherosclerotic plaques. So, we see that heart attacks and strokes are caused by the high blood glucose levels.

The Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration is a collaboration of several research groups that aims to investigate various risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Their 2010 study involved a meta-analysis of data from 102 prospective studies, with a total of over 450,000 participants. The researchers examined the association between diabetes mellitus, fasting blood glucose concentration, and the risk of vascular diseases, such as heart attacks and strokes.

The study analyzed data on individuals with and without diabetes to assess the impact of diabetes on the risk of vascular diseases. This meta-analysis of prospective studies involving over 450,000 participants found that individuals with diabetes had a significantly higher risk of dying from vascular diseases, including heart attacks and strokes, compared to those without diabetes.

Diabetes has been linked with cancer as well

According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the American Cancer Society (ACS), now diabetes has been linked to cancer as well. Studies have found that in a diabetic, the chances of developing cancer increase by 25%. However, this is applicable only for people whose blood glucose levels are poorly controlled. The biggest risk is of developing liver, pancreatic and endometrial cancers, although diabetes has been linked with colorectal, breast, bladder and lung cancers as well.

The risk of cancers of genital areas is almost doubled in women suffering from type II diabetes, which is characterized by hypreinsulinemia. The likelihood of cancer in diabetics increases because both the diseases share some common risk factors like old age, obesity, and lack of physical activity.

Read More: Women With Diabetes Are More Often Diagnosed With Breast Cancer

Cancer may be a result of the continuous high exposure of the body cells to increased levels of insulin and blood glucose; and to the inflammation found in diabetes. Therefore, it is necessary for all diabetics to monitor their blood sugar levels at regular intervals and keep their diabetes under control. It is essential to remain physically active and to get rid of the extra weight by exercising regularly. Diabetic women should be advised to undergo screening tests for various cancers earlier and more frequently than the general population.

Diabetes can weaken the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to infections and potentially compromising the body's ability to detect and eliminate cancer cells. Diabetes shares several risk factors with cancer, including obesity, unhealthy diet, sedentary lifestyle, and smoking. These risk factors can increase the likelihood of developing both diabetes and certain types of cancer.