Does high blood sugar level increase the growth of cancers?
Patient: I would like to know if having high blood sugar can complicate or speed up the growth of cancers? specifically, Non hodgkin lymphoma, stage 4 matastasized to lung and kidney. completed 5 out of 8 recommended chemo treatments and had no sign of cancer on pet scan as of march 2014. but patient has had type 1 diabetes for most of his life, is 45 years old and ever since the chemo has not been able to keep blood sugar stable and within target range. Average blood sugar is in the high 200 s and sometimes as high as 400. Considering that glucose injected into patients prior to a pet scan to reflect the areas of the body that have cancer cells, does having high blood sugar in general happen to feed the cancerous cells or make them grow faster? Doctor: Hi Welcome to HCMI Have gone thru your query regarding increase in growth of cancers while having high blood sugar .  Dear  though there is no such study has been reported But meanwhile, there's no reason not to get blood sugar under control .Doing so may help prevent diabetes and heart disease, besides possibly making cancer less likely .That will be like killing 2 birds w3ith 1 stone .Keeping blood sugar levels within the normal range "may reduce cancer risk," write the researchers, who included Par Stattin, MD, PhD, of Sweden's Umea University Hospital. Illness or stress can trigger high blood sugars because hormones produced to combat illness or stress can also cause your blood sugar to rise. Same is the case with cancer .  Constant  stress ,illness ,worry , anger . lack of  nutritious food  & lack of  exercise  do cause cancer ,The study doesn't prove that high blood sugar levels cause cancer or that normal blood sugar levels prevent it. And A freindly suggestion is if take care of life style  and regular food habits - nutritious food  containing all essential nutrients  and supplements full of antioxidents  -and regular ,walk , exercise ,yoga ,pranayam -deep breething proper rest , sound sleep , meditation  and positive  atitude  towards life . and avoidance of fried , fast foods , tea  ,coffee , alcohol , smoking , mental stress  worry , anger and constipatin  , all factors can help incease strength  of your immune system  , help resistance from dieseases (may it be diabetes ,heart , or cancer or any big or small) ,  paving way for happy ,healthy,  diseasefree lifeHope .this helps yousolve your query Take care .All the best  Don't hesitate to get back for further query .