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Review
. 2024 Jun 3.
doi: 10.1007/s12020-024-03886-1. Online ahead of print.

Diabetes and obesity: the role of stress in the development of cancer

Angelo Avogaro  1
Affiliations
Review

Diabetes and obesity: the role of stress in the development of cancer

Angelo Avogaro. Endocrine. .

Abstract

Diabesity is a condition where an individual has both diabetes and obesity, which can lead to severe complications including cardiovascular disease, a leading cause of mortality. Recently, cancer has become a leading cause of excess hospitalizations, and both diabetes and obesity are associated with a higher risk of developing several types of cancer. In this review, we propose that chronic stress significantly increases this association. Managing diabetes and obesity is challenging as they both cause significant distress. The relationship between stress and cancer is interconnected, with anxiety and depression being common in cancer patients. Cancer diagnosis and treatment can cause lasting changes in the body's neuroendocrine system, with stress causing an excessive release of catecholamines and prostaglandins in patients undergoing cancer surgery, which promotes the spread of cancer to other parts of the body. Furthermore, stress could significantly increase the risk of cancer in patients with diabetes, obesity, or both.

Keywords: Cancer; Diabetes mellitus; Non-communicable chronic disease; Obesity; Stress.

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