Diabetes Awareness Week 2025: Shining a Light on a Vital Link
Diabetes Awareness Week is just around the corner, and at Pancreatic Cancer Action, we’re getting ready to shine a light on something that needs more attention, the link between diabetes and pancreatic cancer. We want to get the conversation started early, because the more people understand this connection, the more lives we can save.
What’s the Link Between Diabetes and Pancreatic Cancer?
There’s a strong connection between diabetes and pancreatic cancer, though scientists are still working to understand exactly how the two are related. One thing we do know is that new-onset diabetes, especially when it can’t be explained by lifestyle factors or weight can sometimes be an early warning sign of pancreatic cancer.
That’s why our research, in partnership with the University of Surrey and the University of Oxford, has been so important. Together, we carried out the largest study to date into the early symptoms of pancreatic cancer, including unexplained weight loss, high blood sugar, and diabetes. What we found was powerful: some of these signs can appear up to three years before a pancreatic cancer diagnosis. That gives us a crucial window to detect the disease earlier and improve survival rates.
How This Research is Saving Lives
Thanks to this research, we successfully influenced a major update to NICE Guidance (NG17), which guides how GPs manage and diagnose diabetes. The updated guidance now states that for people aged 60 and over who present with new-onset diabetes and weight loss, GPs should consider the possibility of pancreatic cancer and act quickly.
This means patients in this group should now be referred for a CT scan or ultrasound within two weeks. It’s a vital change, and it could help save up to 3,000 lives each year by making earlier diagnosis possible.
Coming Soon: A New Way to Find Pancreatic Cancer Early
Following this change in guidance, we’ve been working closely with the NHS and the Surrey and Sussex Cancer Alliance. Together, we’re preparing to launch a pilot case-finding project starting in June 2025. This new system will help identify people at risk of pancreatic cancer based on new-onset diabetes and weight loss, even if they haven’t seen their GP yet.
This initiative, made possible through our seed funding of the original research, could be a game-changer for early diagnosis. It’s about spotting red flags sooner and giving people a fighting chance at better outcomes.
Diabetes as Both a Sign and a Risk Factor
While new-onset diabetes can be an early sign of pancreatic cancer, long-term Type 2 diabetes is also a known risk factor. That’s because high blood sugar and insulin resistance can lead to inflammation, which may damage the pancreas over time and increase the risk of cancer.
We also know that diabetes can develop after pancreatic cancer treatment. When part or all of the pancreas is removed through surgery the only potential cure for pancreatic cancer patients often go on to develop Type 3c diabetes. That’s because the pancreas can no longer produce insulin.
Next Week’s Focus: Regular Diabetes Health Checks
As we approach Diabetes Week, we want to draw attention to something simple but incredibly important: diabetes health checks. These are vital, especially for pancreatic cancer survivors who are living with Type 3c diabetes after treatment.
These checks include tests to monitor average blood sugar levels, heart and kidney function, and eye and foot health. They help people and their healthcare teams manage diabetes more effectively and prevent serious complications down the line.
Too many people aren’t getting all the checks they need. That’s why we’ll be using Diabetes Week to raise awareness about what these checks are and why they matter.
Why It’s Worth Talking About Now
It’s estimated that around 850,000 people in the UK have undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes. By helping people understand the signs and risks, and by improving early detection pathways, we can truly change lives.
At Pancreatic Cancer Action, we believe in getting ahead of the curve. That’s why we’re talking about all of this now, before the official awareness week begins. Because for the people affected by pancreatic cancer and diabetes, time matters.
If you’re living with diabetes, know someone who is, or want to learn more about the signs to look out for, stay with us next week as we continue sharing resources, insights and support. Together, we can make a difference.