More than 4 million people in France are living with diabetes, a figure representing approximately 6% of the population, according to recent data. While the condition predominantly affects individuals over the age of 40, diagnoses are increasingly occurring in younger adults, raising concerns among health officials.
Diabetes is a chronic illness with potentially severe health consequences, including cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack and stroke, kidney damage, vision impairment, nerve disorders and foot complications. Research also indicates a link between diabetes and an elevated risk of certain cancers, notably pancreatic and stomach cancers.
The incidence of pancreatic cancer in France, while not the most prevalent – approximately 5,000 new cases were recorded in 2018 – is rising globally among younger populations and carries a poor prognosis. While typically caused by bacterial infection, several studies suggest diabetes may also contribute to increased risk, though this connection remains poorly understood in younger patients. A recent study specifically investigated the relationship between diabetes and stomach cancer in individuals under 50.
The study, conducted in South Korea and tracking nearly 2.5 million young adults over a decade, revealed a heightened risk of gastric cancer among those with diabetes. The risk correlated with the duration of the diabetes diagnosis: a 27% increase for those recently diagnosed, 36% for those with diabetes for less than five years, and a 53% increase for those diagnosed five years or more prior.
The study also found the risk of cancer development was age-dependent, becoming apparent only after the age of 40. Researchers also examined lifestyle factors, finding that current smoking, as well as low to moderate or high alcohol consumption, were associated with an increased risk of stomach cancer across all glycemic groups, with the highest risk observed in individuals with diabetes. Both tobacco and alcohol have been previously identified as risk factors for stomach cancer.
While the findings require further confirmation and “should be interpreted with prudence,” the study suggests that “optimal glycemic control, smoking cessation, and reduced alcohol consumption could mitigate this risk” of stomach cancer in young adults, according to the research published in The Lancet in late 2025.
