This is the key to reducing cancer risk in obesity and diabetes

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In a new study from the University of Gothenburg, researchers found good blood sugar control is important for the reduction of cancer risk in obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Large durable weight loss, as such, appears to afford protection against cancer, but with good glucose control, the number of cancer cases also drops radically.

That obesity is a risk factor for both type 2 diabetes and several types of cancer is a known fact.

Similarly, intentional weight loss through, for example, bariatric surgery often results in amelioration of diabetes and many patients achieve normal blood-glucose control.

For patients with obesity, cancer risk, too, can be reduced after major, long-lasting weight loss.

In the study, the team tested a group of 393 people with type 2 diabetes who underwent bariatric surgery, and compared them with a control group of 308 people

These people had severe obesity and type 2 diabetes, but they had not undergone bariatric surgery.

In the surgery group, 68 individuals (approximately 17%) developed cancer in parallel with a significant weight loss.

The corresponding emerging cancer cases in the control group amounted to 74 (24%), while these individuals retained their condition of severe obesity. The median follow-up period was 21 years.

Overall, the risk of getting cancer was 37% lower in the group that underwent obesity surgery.

However, the largest difference was observed when cancer risk was analyzed in the patients who achieved normal glucose control and had no relapse of diabetes over a ten-year period.

Among these patients, there was a 60% reduction in cancer risk.

These results are an important contribution that enhances the understanding of the connection between glucose control and cancer prevention.

The team says the global epidemic of both obesity and diabetes leads to an increased risk of cancer, as well as an increased risk of premature death.

Over the next 10 to 15 years, obesity may cause more cancer cases than smoking in several countries.

If you care about your weight, please read studies about reducing these 2 things from your diet may help protect muscles, treat obesity and findings of this drug that may help protect against liver damage, obesity.

For more information about diabetes, please see recent studies about this diet could improve health in people with diabetes and results showing that widely used stomach drugs may help control blood sugar in diabetes.

The study is published in the journal Diabetes Care. One author of the study is Kajsa Sjöholm.

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