Diabetes Comorbidity and Quality of Life in Patients with Cancer: A Prospective Study in an Integrative Oncology...

Background: Research on quality of life (QoL)-related concerns among patients with both diabetes mellitus (DM) and cancer is limited. This study compared the QoL-related concerns and characteristics among chemotherapy-treated patients with cancer and DM to those without DM. Methods: Chemotherapy-treated patients were evaluated during integrative oncology (IO) consultations, which included evidence-based complementary therapies recommended by their healthcare providers to address quality of life (QoL) concerns. During these consultations, the participants were assessed for comorbidities, including diabetes mellitus (DM). QoL-related concerns were measured using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30). Results: Of the 1171 patients referred for an IO consultation, 272 (23.2%) had an established diagnosis of DM. The DM patients were older, presented with more advanced stages of cancer, and had more chronic comorbidities (p < 0.001). While fatigue was the most frequently reported QoL-related concern in both groups, the patients with DM had more severe pain scores in the ESAS (4.9 vs. 4.4, p = 0.022) and lower ESAS well-being scores (5.9 vs. 5.5, p = 0.021). Conclusions: Chemotherapy-treated patients with cancer and DM are characterized by higher rates of comorbidities and report more severe scores for pain and for poorer general well-being. Oncologists and diabetologists should consider referring patients with both diagnoses for an IO consultation to address their QoL-related concerns. More research is needed to understand the impact of IO consultations and treatments on well-being among patients diagnosed with both DM and cancer.