Cancer and Diabetes

Among the most common co-morbidity with cancer among AI/AN is Diabetes

The authors of the diabetes and cancer pages are DeeAnn DeRoin, MD (Ioway) and Jennie Joe, RN, PhD (Navajo)

There are other co-morbidities (co-existing chronic conditions) that AI/AN survivors have in addition to their cancer:

• Arthritis
• High blood pressure
• Heart conditions
• Obesity

What is the purpose of this NACE branch?  To explain:

• What diabetes is
• What pre-diabetes is
• Who is at risk for diabetes
• Why diabetes is important
• How to manage both cancer treatment and diabetes

What information can I find in this module?

• How diabetes is diagnosed
• If you are at risk of developing diabetes
• Help with learning how to manage diabetes
• Tips for managing both cancer and diabetes

Diabetes and American Indians/Alaska Natives

• American Indian/Alaska Native adults are almost three times more likely than non-Hispanic white adults to be diagnosed with diabetes.
• American Indians/Alaska Natives were 2.5 times more likely than non-Hispanic whites to die from diabetes, in 2017.
• In 2016, American Indians/Native Americans were 2.4 times more likely to be diagnosed with end stage renal disease than non-Hispanic whites.

Diagnosed Cases of Diabetes

Source: CDC 2019. Summary Health Statistics: National Health Interview Survey: 2018. Table A-4a. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/shs/tables.htm

https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/omh/browse.aspx?lvl=4&lvlid=33

What is "diabetes" (used to be called "metabolic disorder")?

• Diabetes is a condition in which the sugar in your blood does not get into your cells.
• Cells use sugar for energy.
• The sugar in your blood (called "blood glucose") comes mostly from the food you eat to nourish your body.
• Your body needs a hormone called insulin to move the sugar from the bloodstream (the body's "transportation" system) into the cells.
• In diabetes the sugar in the blood stream builds up in the blood and causes "high blood sugar" because it can't get into the cells
• Living healthy can prevent complications

Complications from Diabetes

• If the blood sugar is not managed well, it can lead to a number of complications:
  • Eye problems, including blindness
  • Heart disease
  • Kidney failure
  • Nerve damage
  • Loss of limbs
  • Dental problems
• Good News
  • The good news is that we now know that a healthy lifestyle:
    • Can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes
    • Can prevent or delay the complications of type 2 diabetes

What are behaviors to prevent diabetes?

• Eat a healthy diet (lean protein, whole grains, lots of fruits and veggies)
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Be physically active everyday