People with diabetes are at an increased risk of developing and dying from breast and colon cancer, new research has found.

According to Dutch scientists, while it is already acknowledged that diabetes increases the risk of cancer overall, little research has been carried out on the link between the condition and deaths related to specific types of cancer.

They analysed 20 trials that took place between 2007 and 2012, involving over 1.9 million people. All of the participants had either breast or colon cancer, however not all of them had diabetes.

The analysis revealed that those with diabetes had a 23% increased risk of developing breast cancer and a 38% increased risk of dying from the disease compared to those who did not have diabetes.

Meanwhile, people with diabetes also had a 26% increased risk of developing cancer of the colon and a 30% increased risk of dying from it compared to people without diabetes.

The scientists said that the findings show a ‘higher risk and a stronger association between diabetes and death from breast and colon cancer than previously reported'.

"Our meta-analysis, which is unique since it looks at the risks for breast and colon cancer while excluding all other causes of death, provides stronger evidence for the association between diabetes and the risk of developing and dying from these cancers. We want to make people more aware of this problem," explained Dr Kirstin De Bruijn of the Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam.

She pointed out that people with cancer who have diabetes and are obese are already a more vulnerable group when it comes to surgery, due to an increased risk of complications during and after surgery.

"Worldwide, the numbers of obese and subsequent diabetic patients are still increasing and it is a cause for concern that these individuals are at a higher risk of developing cancer and dying from it. And if more obese and diabetic patients have to have an operation because of cancer, healthcare costs will increase," she explained.

Dr De Bruijn presented her findings at the 2013 European Cancer Congress in Amsterdam.

Commenting on the findings, Prof Hans-Joerg Senn, scientific director of the Tumor and Breast Centre ZeTuP in Switzerland, described them as ‘disturbing and highly important'.

"It highlights once more the importance of the negative interactions between lifestyle, metabolism, overweight and certain frequent types of cancers, such as here between diabetes, obesity and breast cancer as well as colon cancer. It is time for increased and more effective information and prevention campaigns, especially in the economically developed world where caloric abundance is prevalent," he said.