Private MD News

Prostate cancer treatment may increase risk of type 2 diabetes

Category: Prostate

A positive PSA test for prostate cancer on its own may be cause for concern, but sometimes, the treatments for the condition can cause further health problems. For example, a recent study found that hormone deprivation therapy may raise a man’s risk of developing diabetes.

For the study, researchers from the Philippine General Hospital examined the medical records of 38 men with prostate cancer who were prescribed androgen deprivation therapy and 36 individuals with the condition were opted for surgery.

The results showed that those who were given the hormone treatment were roughly twice as likely to develop type 2 diabetes, compared to those who chose to undergo surgery.

Given the relatively small size of the study, the researchers said that they could not definitively conclude that androgen deprivation therapy is was the cause of type 2 diabetes in these individuals. However, given the correlation, there could be grounds for further investigation.

Either way, the team stated that men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer through PSA testing should be warned that these types of complications may occur during the course of androgen deprivation therapy.