Originally published in icon Issue 1 2007
Cancer and treatment can take may people to new levels of stress. They can even bring on or worsen symptoms of diabetes, especially pancreatic, adrenal and lung cancers. Even simple steroids can increase risk - a fact few doctors and even fewer patients seem aware of.
Sometimes the diabetes appears a few years after surgery. For an excellent review try www.cancerwise.org the on-line magazine of M D Anderson.
Risks are higher for blacks and Asians, and for smokers and people with a history of high blood sugar.
M D Anderson recommends exercise, controlling blood sugars and the avoidance of sugary, or refined starch foods (Ed: As we have pointed out in the past, some UK hospital dieticians actually recommend these foods for patients on chemotherapy!)