Extensive 27-Year Study Reveals Striking Link Between Type 2 Diabetes and Increased Cancer Risk

Women with Type 2 diabetes face a significantly higher lifetime risk of developing cancer compared to men with the same condition, according to extensive new research. A 27-year study conducted in Denmark found that cancer cases were 12 percent higher in men with Type 2 diabetes than in healthy men, while women with the disease experienced a 22 percent increase compared to healthy women. The comprehensive assessment evaluated the entire adult population of the country between 1996 and 2022.

The elevated cancer incidence among individuals with Type 2 diabetes was especially pronounced for obesity-related cancers. Between 2010 and 2022, these cases were 45 percent higher in men and 30 percent higher in women compared to those without diabetes.

“Our findings underline the growing cancer burden among people with T2D and highlight the need to prioritise cancer prevention and early detection as part of long-term diabetes care,” stated Dr Tinne Laurberg from the Steno Diabetes Centre at Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark, who led the research. She emphasized the importance of focusing on common obesity-related cancers, such as colorectal and postmenopausal breast cancer, for which screening programs already exist, and encouraging greater participation among patients.

Researchers utilized data from nationwide health registries covering individuals aged 18 and older to analyze the connection between diabetes and cancer, comparing obesity-related malignancies like breast and colorectal cancer with non-obesity-linked types such as lung or prostate cancer. These findings are scheduled for discussion at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Milan this month.

Since 2016, cancer has emerged as the leading cause of death among people with Type 2 diabetes in Denmark and other high-income countries. World Health Organisation figures also place diabetes and cancer among the top five most common causes of death in the UAE, where approximately 20 percent of citizens—roughly 1.27 million adults—live with diabetes, according to the International Diabetes Federation.

Dr Mohamad Azzam Ziade, a consultant in oncology at Medcare Royal Specialty Hospital, noted the clear connection between cancer and long-term diabetes. “This is something we are increasingly aware of, but having Type 2 diabetes does not mean that someone will develop cancer,” he said, noting the complex and multi-factorial relationship that offers opportunities for proactive management.

Effective long-term health can be supported by managing diabetes, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, eating a balanced diet, and keeping up with recommended cancer screenings, according to Dr Ziade. He also pointed out that certain cancer treatments, including steroids, can temporarily raise blood glucose levels and affect appetite, weight, and activity patterns, necessitating coordinated care and potential adjustments to diabetes medication.

Meanwhile, the UAE is rapidly expanding its specialist cancer care capabilities. The UAE National Cancer Registry documented 7,487 cases in 2023 and 9,219 cases in 2024. With breast cancer standing as the most common form of the disease in women, early screening rates in Abu Dhabi have surged by 85 percent over the past year, as reported by the Department of Health Abu Dhabi. Three facilities—Burjeel Medical City, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, and Seha Tawam Hospital—have been designated as centres of excellence for breast cancer.

“Abu Dhabi continues to strengthen a leading healthcare ecosystem built on continuously advancing the quality of specialised care,” said Dr Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, undersecretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi. “By expanding access to trusted, high-quality specialised services, we are empowering our communities to receive the care they need.”