Despite the rarity of pancreatic cancer, pinpointing the underlying causes for this increased risk hasn’t been easy. Diabetes inhibits the pancreas’s ability to produce insulin, the hormone that regulates the body’s glucose levels—and this could lead to a number of complications with the organ. But there’s also evidence that two of the drugs used to treat diabetes might also increase development of pancreatitis, inflammation of the pancreas, as well as pancreatic cancer.

 

Conversely, about 80 percent of people who’ve developed pancreatic cancer also suffer from glucose intolerance or diabetes. The most obvious connection between both of these conditions is pancreatic dysfunction.

 

While people can develop diabetes because of genetic factors, prevention and lifestyle changes can lessen the negative effects of diabetes and, perhaps, avoid the factors that could contribute to developing pancreatic cancer as well.

 

Genetics contribute to the development of diabetes, but for many people, lifestyle changes can have a significant impact—both in reducing the risk of developing the disease, and in managing diabetes. Paying attention to diet, exercise, and quitting smoking can help diabetics avoid many of the symptoms of the disease. Those lifestyle changes can also help diabetic patients avoid pancreatic cancer: smoking and obesity can contribute to the development of pancreatic cancer. As with any disease, patients should talk to their doctors to help them create a wellness plan to help them manage their disease.

It’s critical that diabetes patients maintain a steady and honest dialogue with their health care providers about their diabetes symptoms, but that they also report any changes in their health that could be signs of pancreatic cancer. The two medications connected with the development of pancreatic cancer, sitagliptin and exenatide, have been found to increase pancreatic cancer risk six-fold—and diabetics who take these medications should be especially vigilant when monitoring themselves for signs of pancreatic cancer.

 

It’s also important that people suffering from pancreatic cancer talk to their doctors about their treatment regimen. Because pancreatic cancer can affect insulin production, patients receiving pancreatic cancer treatment should also encourage their doctors to do tests for diabetes, and look for symptoms of diabetes like excessive thirst, blurred vision, and rapid unexplained weight loss.

 

As research continues to solidify the links between diabetes and pancreatic cancer, patients suffering from either disease have the responsibility to change their daily routines in order to reduce their chances of developing complications. Coupled with regular checkups with a doctor and a healthy lifestyle, it’s possible that people could prevent more dangerous health issues. Each of these steps is critical to surviving both pancreatic cancer and diabetes, and to leading full and healthy life.