Particularly among those over 55.
To be healthy, blood sugar levels, in other words blood sugar levels, must be as stable as possible throughout the day. If it “spikes” too often, there is a greater risk of heart problems, diabetes, chronic diseases (endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, acne, pain), weight gain, sleep problems, digestive problems, fatigue …
In the American magazine Journal of the National Cancer Center in September, Chinese researchers highlighted a new risk associated with high blood sugar: that of developing a certain type of cancer. To find out the rate at which the risk is significant, the researchers analyzed health data – including blood sugar – from two cohorts (BioBank cohort in the United Kingdom and Kailuan cohort in China) bringing together more than 500,000 adults followed for nearly 12 years old. People who had had cancer in the past were excluded from the study.
According to the researchers’ observations, the higher the blood sugar levels people had, the greater their risk of having colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon or rectum) during their lifetime. In detail:
→ People who had a blood sugar level below 4.29 mmol/L (i.e. 0.8 g/L) had no particular increased risk and were considered the “control group”.
→ People who had a fasting blood sugar level of 5.87 mmol/L (i.e. 1 g/L) had a 10% increased risk of having colorectal cancer compared to the control group.
→ People who had a fasting blood sugar level of 6.62 mmol/L (i.e. 1.2 g/L) had a 23% greater risk
→ The risk was really critical (+61% risk compared to the control group) for a fasting blood sugar level above 7.0 mmol/L, which is equivalent to a level of 1.26 g/L. Or the rate that we consider “worrying” and which can reveal diabetes.
Those most at risk were men over 55, with a higher BMI or a less healthy lifestyle compared to the control group. To prevent the risk of colorectal cancer during one’s life, “our results suggest that tighter glycemic control should be a priority, particularly for younger age groups” indicate the researchers in their publicationspecifying however that the precise mechanisms remain to be elucidated.