Researchers from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore and Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea, followed more than 1 million Korean patients for 10 years. The researchers tracked new cancer cases and deaths caused by cancer.

Results of the study show patients with diabetes and those without diabetes but with higher fasting blood sugar levels were more likely to develop cancer or die from cancer. The group with the highest fasting blood sugar levels had higher death rates from all cancers combined.

Men with high blood sugar or diabetes were more likely to develop cancers of the pancreas, esophagus, liver and colon. Women with these predispositions were more likely to develop liver and cervical cancer.

Researchers note the patients in this study were leaner than the typical Western population. They say glucose intolerance may be one way obesity increases cancer risk, and rising obesity rates may increase future cancer rates.

Authors conclude, “This study provides more information on glucose intolerance, an emerging cause of cancer. It points to increased cancer risk as another adverse consequence of rising obesity around the world.”