Cancer And Diabetes- Overcoming The Challenges

Exploring The Connection Between Diabetes And Cancer

Battling both diseases at the same time may add even more stress to your life. But there are resources and tools that can help. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s even more important for patients with both conditions to find ways to manage them in order to reduce their risk of infection and/or severe side effects if they get infected.

More than 25 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Among people 65 and older, nearly 27 percent have diabetes.

Can Cancer Treatment Such As Chemotherapy Effect Preexisting Diabetes?

Navigating cancer is especially challenging for people with diabetes. Radiation therapy, steroids, and some types of chemotherapy may impact your blood sugar levels. And uncontrolled high blood sugar can lead to dehydration, which is a frequent side effect of chemotherapy.  Taking extra care to manage your blood sugar levels can help you stay hydrated and feel better during treatment.

Uncontrolled blood sugar levels also can have a negative impact on your other organs. Monitoring your blood sugar levels can help keep them healthy and strong during cancer treatment.

The vast majority of diabetes cases are type 2 diabetes, which is associated largely with older age and being overweight as well as family history. Older age and obesity also are risk factors for developing cancer, which means that people with type 2 diabetes are diagnosed with cancer more often than those in the general population.

Diabetes Can Complicate Cancer Treatment

At the same time, some treatments for cancer, including certain newer targeted therapy drugs, can spur the development of diabetes, especially in patients who already had a propensity toward developing the disease, although this effect is usually reversible.

Several studies published within the past decade demonstrate that patients with a chronic disease are less likely to receive preventive services, such as cancer screenings, than their counterparts without diabetes.  A recent retrospective study addressed cancer screening in patients with diabetes.

After examining the mammography rates of 69,168 Canadian women with diabetes and 663,519 Canadian women without diabetes, the authors concluded that patients with complex chronic diseases are 32% less likely to receive this routine cancer screening, even though they see primary care and specialty physicians more frequently than their counterparts without diabetes. 

Tips For Managing Diabetes During Cancer Treatment

Properly managing diabetes during cancer treatment is critical. Cancer and cancer treatment may cause metabolic changes that trigger or aggravate symptoms of diabetes. Also, high blood sugar levels caused by diabetes may weaken the immune system, which needs to be strong to fight cancer. Likewise, diabetes may delay cancer treatment or increase the risk of infection during treatment.

Here are some tips for managing diabetes:

• Educate yourself. Try to learn as much as possible about the disease and how it may impact your cancer treatment. Developing for managing the disease will empower you to take better care of yourself and prevent or reduce diabetes complications.

• Stay physically active. Regular exercise may help increase the efficiency of cells to absorb glucose and process it. Exercise may also help increase muscle, thereby reducing insulin resistance. It may also help to elevate your mood and relax you. A rehabilitation therapist may help you develop an appropriate exercise program for you to do at home.

• Avoid unhealthy habits. If you have cancer and diabetes, the risks of smoking are even higher. Smoking further impairs your immune system, making you more susceptible to colds and respiratory infections. You should also avoid excessive alcohol consumption, which may dehydrate you and further weaken your immune system.

• Monitor your blood sugar. Some cancer treatments may cause blood glucose levels to rise. Keeping your blood sugars within your target range may help you prevent infection, nausea, fatigue, and other challenges.

• Monitor your blood pressure. Diabetes and high blood pressure may damage your blood vessels. High blood pressure may also impair your immune system, limiting your ability to fight off viruses that cause infection. To help keep blood pressure within the normal range, practice healthy habits like eating a balanced diet and getting regular exercise.

• Manage your stress. No matter how well you’re coping, cancer and diabetes may cause added stress. Stress may increase your body's production of the hormones that block the effect of insulin, causing your blood sugar to rise. Try different ways to reduce stress, such as relaxation techniques, distraction, and yoga.

• Talk about your feelings with others. Share your concerns with family and friends, as well as with others who are in similar situations. Consider joining a support group for people who are managing a dual diagnosis. Expressing yourself may help you feel less alone and improve your overall quality of life.