Optimal diabetes control linked to lower cancer risk, Hong Kong researchers find
Two comprehensive studies by researchers at the University of Hong Kong's Faculty of Medicine have revealed that maintaining optimal blood sugar control in diabetes patients significantly reduces their risk of developing colorectal and liver cancers.
The two territory-wide studies, led by Professor Walter Seto Wai-kay and Dr Michael Cheung Ka-shing, analysed data from over 140,000 diabetes patients through the Hospital Authority's records for up to 17 years and found that optimal diabetes control reduced colorectal cancer risk by 28% and liver cancer risk by 30%. Optimal control was defined as maintaining glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels below 7%, a standard measure of long-term blood sugar control.
The research demonstrated a clear biological gradient: as HbA1c levels increased, so did cancer risk. Patients with HbA1c levels of 8.5% or higher showed a 58% increased risk of colorectal cancer compared to those with optimal control. Similarly, patients with HbA1c levels of 9% or higher demonstrated a 71% higher risk of liver cancer.
The findings are particularly significant for Hong Kong, where colorectal and liver cancers rank as the second and fifth most common cancers, respectively. The research also showed that optimal diabetes control reduced the risk of developing colorectal adenomas—precancerous growths in the intestinal lining—by 13%.
The results about colorectal cancer were published in the journal Gut, and the study related to liver cancer was published in Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics. Together, they suggest that stringent diabetes management could serve as an effective strategy for cancer prevention, particularly in high-risk individuals.