Prediabetic Tendencies Can Increase The Risk of Certain Types of Cancer

Prediabetes increases the risk of cancer by up to 15 percent, according to recent findings.

A meta-analysis comprised of 16 studies of up to 900,000 adults across Asia, Europe, the United States and Africa shows that adults with prediabetic conditions have increased rates of liver, stomach, pancreas, breast and endometrium cancer. Similarly, they're also at an increased risk of prostate, ovarian and kidney cancers than those who are not prediabetic.

This health issue, which estimated to affect more than 86 million individuals throughout the United States, is marked by high glucose levels.

Researchers found that chronic oxidative stress results may explain mounting levels of sugar-based products in the body, which could act as carcinogens, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Higher amounts of insulin could also cause cancer cells to proliferate, increasing insulin secretion that's caused by insulin resistance commonly seen in type 2 diabetes and prediabetic traits.

"These findings have important clinical and public health implications," the study authors noted, via Science Daily. "In the US population aged over 18 years, the age-adjusted prevalence of prediabetes increased from 29% in 1999-2002 to 36% in 2007-2010. Many other countries, are also seeing steep rises in the number of people with type 2 diabetes and prediabetes."