High Insulin = High Breast Cancer Risk

Women who have high levels of insulin are at high risk for developing breast cancer (Journal of the National Cancer Institute, January 2009). Insulin stimulates breast cells to grow. Women who are most likely to have high levels of insulin are those who are obese, store fat primarily in their bellies, do not exercise, eat lots of refined carbohydrates (sugar and flour), and lack vitamin D. Furthermore, people with diabetes who get cancer are 40 percent more likely to die earlier than cancer patients who are not diabetic (Journal of the American Medical Association, February 2007). Dr. Frederick Brancati of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore combined the results of 23 studies involving about 125,000 people in 10 countries including the United States, Australia and the Netherlands. People with high blood sugar levels are at increased risk for cancers of the uterus, breast, colon, pancreas, endometrium, liver and bladder. Those with diabetes have a 76 percent higher risk of death from cancer of the uterus, a 61 percent higher risk for breast cancer, and a 40 percent increase for colon cancer. Furthermore, diabetics are at higher risk for heart disease, stroke, kidney damage and blindness.