Diabetes and the Risk of Cancer

When we talk about diabetes, we think about blood sugar, insulin, and complications like kidney damage or blindness. When we talk about cancer, we imagine tumors, biopsies, chemotherapy, and survival. But what if these two conditions, so different in appearance, are more connected than we ever realised?

It turns out they are. The consequences of this relationship are both alarming and deeply important.

The Stats Don’t Lie

Diabetes and cancer are among the leading causes of death worldwide. Alone, they’re formidable. Together, they’re deadly.

A major population-based study published in Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice found that people with diabetes have a 20% higher overall risk of developing cancer compared to those without diabetes (Lin et al., 2024, PubMed). That’s not a small number, and it’s not limited to just one type of cancer either.

But it doesn’t stop there.

Other studies show that Type 2 diabetes is specifically associated with increased risks of:

• Breast cancer (NIH, 2020)
• Liver cancer (2.5x higher risk)
• Pancreatic cancer is also strongly linked
• Endometrial, colorectal, and bladder cancers all show higher incidence rates in people with Type 2 diabetes (Giovannucci et al., 2010 – Diabetes Care)

These are not just numbers. These are lives, mothers, fathers, and young adults, caught at the crossroads of two chronic illnesses.

Why Is This Happening?

Science is still unpacking the exact reasons, but here’s what we know:

1. Shared Risk Factors

Diabetes and cancer have many common risk factors:

• Obesity
• Poor diet
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Aging

It’s like building two different diseases from the same foundation, and many people in Africa and globally are living with this dangerous overlap, often without knowing it.

2. High Insulin Levels Fuel Cancer

In Type 2 diabetes, the body becomes resistant to insulin, so it produces more of it. This extra insulin (called hyperinsulinemia) can act like a growth signal, telling cells to multiply. Some researchers call it a “fertiliser” for tumors. Unfortunately, that can include cancer cells.

3. Chronic Inflammation

Diabetes creates a constant state of low-grade inflammation in the body. Cancer thrives in this environment. It’s the perfect storm: DNA damage, uncontrolled and abnormal cell growth, and weak immune surveillance. (NIH, Giovannucci et al., 2010)

What Does This Mean for You, Me, and Our Communities?

This isn’t just a conversation for scientists. It’s a wake-up call for:

• Patients: If you’re living with diabetes, speak to your doctor about cancer screening.
• Caregivers and NGOs: Education is key. SOO-DAWI is committed to raising awareness about the risks of dual diagnoses.
• Healthcare providers: Screen diabetic patients for cancer. Treat them holistically, not as isolated conditions.
• Policymakers: We need integrated health programs. You can’t fight one without considering the other.

Double the Burden, Higher the Mortality

Sadly, patients with both diabetes and cancer face higher mortality rates. Managing blood sugar during cancer treatment is tough, but it matters. Poor glucose control has been shown to affect chemotherapy success and overall recovery outcomes (PMC, 2021).

Studies show that cancer patients with diabetes are:

• More likely to have delayed diagnoses
• Less likely to receive aggressive treatments
• Have higher cancer-related death rates (Tan et al., 2021 – Frontiers in Oncology)

Imagine battling two life-threatening conditions at once and doing it in a country where access to care is uneven, screening is scarce, and education is low.

That’s the reality for many Africans. That’s why SOO-DAWI exists.

Prevention and Awareness is Power

The good news? There is hope. We can lower the risk of both diabetes and cancer with the same lifestyle changes and prevention strategies for diabetes, like:

• Regular exercise
• Avoiding tobacco
• Eating more whole foods
• Reducing sugar and processed food intake
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Going for regular health checkups

It’s a win-win.

We don’t need to wait until the storm hits. We can build umbrellas now. This is why SOO-DAWI doesn’t just talk about diabetes. We talk about wellness. Because diseases don’t happen in silos, and neither should care.

What Needs to Change?

We need policy shifts and healthcare systems that treat the whole person, not just one condition at a time.

That means:

• Integrating cancer screening into diabetes clinics
• Training health workers to monitor long-term risks in diabetic patients
• Funding more research in Africa to uncover population-specific patterns
• And most importantly, educating our communities with facts, not fear

What SOO-DAWI Is Doing

At SOO-DAWI, we are committed to bringing holistic, data-driven wellness to the heart of communities across Africa. We equip people with the power to act early, seek help, and live well.

We’re not just talking about diabetes, we’re changing how people see it. We’re:

• Educating communities about the risks and overlaps of diabetes and cancer.
• Promoting early detection through screenings and health workshops.
• Developing accessible tools, like USSD technology, to reach people with no smartphones or internet.
• Partnering with professionals to train caregivers, clinicians, and advocates.

Because diabetes isn’t just about sugar, and cancer isn’t just about tumors. They’re about people. And people deserve to live well.

 

Get Involved

• Are you a health worker? Start conversations about cancer risk with your diabetic patients.
• Are you a policymaker? Push for integrated, community-centred health programs.
• Are you someone living with diabetes? Talk to your doctor about preventive cancer screenings.
• Are you a donor or partner? Join us in building a wellness initiative that looks at the whole picture.

We can’t do it alone. Together, we can make a difference. Support SOO-DAWI. Fund a screening. Fund a management support solution. Share this blog. Tell someone you care.

Let’s raise awareness. Let’s save lives. Let’s stand at the intersection of diabetes and cancer and say: We see you!

 

Sources:

• Giovannucci, E., Harlan, D. M., et al. (2010). Diabetes and Cancer: A Consensus Report. Diabetes Care / PMC
• Harding, J. L., et al. (2024). Diabetes and cancer incidence: a population-based study. PubMed
• Khan, M. A., et al. (2020). Impact of diabetes on cancer treatment outcomes. PMC
• Lin, C. H. et al. (2024). Increased cancer risk in patients with diabetes mellitus. PubMed
• Tan, H. D. et al. (2021). Impact of diabetes on cancer mortality. Frontiers in Oncology / PMC
• Yang, C. W., et al. (2021). Co-management of diabetes and cancer: a clinical review. PMC