Sunday Nov 10, 2013 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new study in Diabetes Technology and Therapeutics again suggests that having type 2 diabetes mellitus may increase the risk of developing bladder cancer.
H. Fang from Shanghai Minhang Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Shanghai, People's Republic of China and colleagues conducted the study and found being diabetic type 2 was associated with up to 23% increased risk of bladder cancer in women.
But the same study did not see an significant association between diabetes mellitus and elevated risk of bladder cancer in men.
A total of 10 case-control and 14 cohort studied were included in the meta-analysis. All studies together show that diabetes mellitus was correlated with 30% increased risk of bladder cancer. Case-control studies tended to find a higher increase in the risk while cohort studies showed a lower risk, 46% increase vs. 23% increase.
After adjustment for body mass index, cigarette smoking or glucose-lowering drug use, those with diabetes mellitus were 17%, 34% and 57% more likely, respectively, to develop bladder cancer than those without diabetes mellitus.
The study concluded “This meta-analysis indicates a positive association between DM and risk of bladder cancer. Further studies are warranted to determine whether DM (Diabetes mellitus) prevention and control can reduce risk of bladder cancer."
An estimated 25 million Americans are believed to live with type 2 diabetes mellitus, a disease that doctors say has no cure. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is non-insulin dependent and in many cases, this disease can be preventable in the first place.
Some remedies that can help prevent or treat type 2 diabetes mellitus include curcumin, cinnamon and bitter melon. An Indian study has found that taking 6 grams of curcumin each day for three months prevents prediabetes from progressing into type 2 diabetes mellitus in almost 100% cases. Food proteins, green tea and Korean red ginseng have also been reported to have an anti-diabetic activity. (David Liu, PHD)
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