Type 2 diabetes: having had gestational diabetes increases the risk of certain types of cancer
Scientists at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University in Taiwan found a higher than average risk of particular cancers in women with a history of gestational diabetes or pregnancy-related diabetes. Their study was published in February 2019 in the British Medical Journal.
A total of 47,373 women with gestational diabetes and 943,199 women with healthy pregnancies were admitted to the study and followed for three years. Women with a history of gestational diabetes had more than twice the risk of developing cancer than women without such a history. They were…
- more than twice as likely to develop kidney cancer,
- nearly 74 percent more likely to develop cancer of the nose or throat,
- more than 37 percent chance of being diagnosed with lung cancer,
- nearly 39 percent more likely to develop cancer of the thyroid gland, and
- over 23 percent more likely to develop breast cancer.
The researchers concluded that women with a history of gestational diabetes should be screened for the cancers listed above.
Prevention of gestational diabetes should begin before a woman conceives. Gestational diabetes begins during pregnancy, especially in women over 25 years of age. Being overweight is a risk factor, so women planning to conceive need to normalize their weight; and during pregnancy, mothers need to gain only the recommended amount of weight. Getting enough physical activity and rest is also important.
Signs and symptoms of kidney cancer are…
- blood in the urine,
- unilateral low back pain,
- lump in the lower back or on the side,
- tiredness,
- loss of appetite,
- lose weight without trying, and/or a
- fever with no known cause that does not go away
Signs and symptoms of nose cancer include…
- nasal mucus,
- bread around the eyes,
- a stuffy side of your nose,
- postnasal drip,
- frequent nosebleeds
- pus from nose,
- a poor or absent sense of smell, and/or
- numbness or pain in the face
Signs and symptoms of throat cancer include…
- a cough that won’t go away
- hoarseness or slurred speech,
- swallow with difficulty,
- ear bread
- sore throat and/or
- unexplained weight loss
The list of signs and symptoms of lung cancer includes…
- a persistent cough
- bloody or rust-colored sputum
- chest pain that worsens with breathing
- hoarseness,
- difficulty breathing,
- tiredness,
- loss of appetite and/or
- weight loss without trying.
The signs and symptoms of thyroid cancer are…
- a lump in the neck can grow rapidly,
- pain in front of the neck can reach to the ears,
- hoarseness or other changes in the voice,
- difficulty swallowing and/or
- respiratory problems.