Type 2 diabetes: having gestational diabetes increases the risk of certain types of cancer

Scientists at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University in Taiwan found an above-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,

• almost 74 percent more likely to develop nose or throat cancer,

• more than 37 percent more likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer,

• almost 39 percent more likely to develop thyroid gland cancer, and

• more than 23 percent more likely to develop breast cancer.

The researchers concluded that women who had a history of gestational diabetes should be screened for the cancers listed above.

Gestational diabetes prevention must begin before women conceive. Gestational diabetes begins during pregnancy, especially in women over 25 years of age. Being overweight is a risk factor, therefore 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 getting rest is also important.

The signs and symptoms of kidney cancer are …

• blood in the urine,

• unilateral low back pain,

• lump in the lower back or side

• tiredness,

• loss of appetite

• lose weight without trying, and / or

• fever with no known cause that does not go away.

Signs and symptoms of nose cancer include …

• nasal mucus,

• pain around the eyes,

• a blocked side of the nose,

• postnasal drip,

• frequent nosebleeds

• pus from the nose,

• a poor or absent sense of smell, and / or

• numbness or pain in the face

Throat cancer signs and symptoms include …

• a cough that won’t go away

• hoarseness or talking interchangeably,

• swallowing with difficulty

• earache

• sore throat and / or

• unexplained weight loss

The list of lung cancer signs and symptoms 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 gland cancer are …

• a lump in the neck can grow quickly,

• the front of the neck can reach up to the ears,

• hoarseness or other voice changes

• difficulty swallowing and / or

• respiratory problems.