Raised glucose concentrations and diabetes are associated with cancer risk

High fasting serum glucose concentrations and diabetes are associated with increased risk of death from several cancers, according to a Korean follow up study of more than one million people (JAMA 2005;293: 194-202).

The Korean cancer prevention study included all of the 829 770 men and 468 615 women aged 30 to 95 years receiving health insurance from the National Health Insurance Corporation who had had a health check every two years during 1992-5. Fasting serum glucose measurements were taken during these health checks. For the follow up study the researchers collected cancer mortality and cancer incidence data from the national cancer registry and hospital records. …