Metformin, which is a common drug used in NonInsulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus or Type Two Diabetes has been found to reduce the risk of cancer in Postmenopausal women suffering from Type 2 Diabetes according to a study published in the April 15, 2016 issue of the International Journal of Cancer
The above conclusion was reached after analyzing more than 146,000 postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes. The data was collected over a five-year period between 1993 and 1998. It has been revealed that women with Type 2 Diabetes and Cancer have a higher chance of death due to cancer as compared to women who are free from diabetes.
The study revealed that women with Type 2 Diabetes faced a 45% higher risk of mortality due to cancer as compared to diabetes-free women. The study further revealed that women suffering from Type 2 Diabetes, who took Metformin regularly had the same risk of dying from cancer as women who is diabetes free.
Type 2 Diabetes or NonInsulin Dependent Diabetes is a condition in which the body is not able to utilize the insulin produced by pancreas efficiently.
As per the guidelines issued by the American Diabetes Association (ADA), Metformin is the first drug of choice in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.
Medical data reveals that Diabetes in Post Menopausal women increases the risk of having colon and endometrial cancers and non-Hodgkin lymphoma by 25 percent to 35 percent. Liver and Pancreatic cancer risk are also twice higher in Diabetic women as compared to nondiabetic women.
Experts, however, contend that the exact mechanism of the action of this age-old drug which has been used in Diabetes is still not clear. However, the paper has revealed that the drug has a role to play in reducing mortality or increasing life expectancy in postmenopausal women who is suffering from Type 2 Diabetes and cancer.
