A charity is raising awareness that a new diagnosis of type 2 diabetes could be a sign of something more serious, particularly if accompanied by weight loss or a low body mass index (BMI). Paula Hanford, chief executive of Pancreatic Cancer Action, said: “Many people don’t realise that new-onset diabetes can sometimes be linked to pancreatic cancer.
“While most people who develop diabetes will not have cancer, this link is seen in a significant proportion of pancreatic cancer cases and could make a live saving difference if recognised sooner.” Insulin resistance and raised blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes cause inflammation which damages the pancreas.
Up to 30% of pancreatic cancer patients are thought to develop new-onset diabetes.
Pancreatic Cancer Action has supported research which showed type 2 diabetes can appear up to three years before a pancreatic cancer diagnosis, offering a crucial window for earlier identification.
Ms Hanford added: “In 2022, NICE updated its guidelines to reflect this evidence. The guidance now recommends that people aged 60 and over who develop new-onset diabetes alongside unexplained weight loss should be urgently assessed for pancreatic cancer, including fast-track access to scans within two weeks.
“For patients, this is hugely significant. It means there is now a clear pathway for earlier investigation, giving more people the chance of being diagnosed at a stage where treatment options, including potentially curative surgery, are still possible.”
Pancreatic Cancer Action is dedicated to improving survival rates through early diagnosis. Surgery before the tumour has grown and spread to other parts of the body is more likely to be successful.
The disease is often spotted late because it has vague symptoms, which can be hard to distinguish from other conditions.
These include pain or discomfort in the mid-back or upper abdomen, jaundice, indigestion, loss of appetite and fatigue. Nausea and vomiting, a change in bowel habit and unexplained weight loss are other possible signs.
Around 10,500 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer every year in the UK. It is the deadliest common cancer, with a five-year survival rate of less than 7%.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
