THE ESSENTIAL
- New study finds type 1 diabetics who take daily insulin overdose at higher risk of developing cancer
- Researchers stress the need to improve insulin sensitivity in order to reduce dosages
In recent years, several studies have demonstrated increased risks of cancer (stomach, liver, pancreas, endometrium, kidneys) in type 1 diabetics. Although the link between cancer and diabetes is established, the factors that may contribute to increased risk of incidence are not yet clearly understood. However, researchers have identified a mechanism that could potentially explain the origin of this phenomenon.
Higher risks in women
Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Oncology, their study involved 1,303 patients with type 1 diabetes, whose data was collected over a period of 28 years. The patients were randomly assigned: some received conventional insulin treatment, others intensive treatment. The objective was to assess whether reducing hyperglycaemia reduced the risk of complications from type 1 diabetes (and in particular that of developing cancer).
In this study, the researchers found that a high dose insulin daily (greater than or equal to 0.8 units/kg per day) was significantly higher than in patients treated with lower amounts. Research also points to the existence of a greater risk in diabetic women.
Improve insulin sensitivity
“Our results imply that clinicians may need to balance potential cancer risk when treating patients with type 1 diabetes with a high daily dose of insulin or improving insulin sensitivity may be preferable to simply increasing the insulin dose”underline the authors of the work.
Insulin sensitivity refers to the body’s ability to digest food and regulate blood sugar levels. In case of diabetes, the production of insulin (provided by the pancreas) is insufficient.
“This research identifies a potential mechanism to explain the association between diabetes and cancer. Its findings will lead to further research in this area and potential policy changes in cancer screening and insulin dosing recommendations. “, comment in a press release Liz Beverly, Co-Director of the Diabetes Institute and Professor at Heritage College, Ohio University (USA).
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