Diabetes and Breast Cancer

November is American Diabetes Month, a time when communities across the country come together to bring awareness to diabetes. This month’s cause affects more than 37 million Americans, that is 1 in 10. 

Fortunately, it is possible to learn to live with diabetes. Making a diabetes meal plan with help from your health care team can be helpful, along with choosing foods that are lower in calories, saturated fat, trans fat, sugar, and salt. Being physically active and staying on your medication for diabetes, even when you feel good, is very important as well.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases recommends that diabetes patients see their health care team at least twice a year to find and treat any problems early. 

While diabetes is common on its own, up to one-third of patients with breast cancer have diabetes as well. Studies show that women with diabetes have lower breast cancer screening rates and present with more advanced disease than women without diabetes. In short, diabetes is a risk factor for poorer breast cancer prognosis. National Diabetes Month is a great opportunity to remind us to remain proactive; if you are screening-aged and have diabetes, make a special effort to attend to your annual scans and lower your risk of breast cancer. 

Sources:

Iliana C. Lega, Peter C. Austin, Hadas D. Fischer, Kinwah Fung, Monika K. Krzyzanowska, Eitan Amir, Lorraine L. Lipscombe; The Impact of Diabetes on Breast Cancer Treatments and Outcomes: A Population-Based Study. Diabetes Care 1 April 2018; 41 (4): 755–761.