Combining the results from 14 international studies, researchers found that diabetics generally have a tendency to 38 percent of colon cancer diagnosed compared to people without diabetes.

In addition, they also have a 20 percent risk of getting cancer of the rectum (large intestine), though it seems limited to men.

The findings reported in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, do not prove that diabetes is directly contribute to colon cancer in some people. The results from observational studies in some people diabetics find that their risk is higher than those without diabetes.

In most of the studies, researchers have made adjustments, at least on some factors that might explain this linkage, i.e. old age, obesity and smoking, and diabetes-cancer relationship remains. But still there is no other explanation.

Aspects of causality are rather difficult to consider because diabetes is a complex disease, “said Giovannucci, who studied the causes of colon cancer. He said it seems a number of aspects of diabetes contribute to colon cancer, but it is not clear what. One theory is that it involves the hormone.

Diabetics tend to have high levels of blood sugar that regulating the high hormone insulin, as well as related hormones. These hormones cause the cells to grow and spread, and which may involve the cancer cells.

Whatever the mechanism, if diabetes does not contribute to colon cancer, it remains unclear what the implications are.