When I was pregnant, I struggled with gestational diabetes. Seven years later, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Cancer takes a number of years to show obvious signs, such as the lump I found.

I read with interest a new report by Dr. Shelagh I. Dawson, from the University of Otago in Christchurch, New Zealand, that suggests there might be a link between mild sugar problems during pregnancy and the increased risk of cancer. According to the study, the more impaired women were in controlling sugar levels during pregnancy, the greater their risk of cancer. Women with the worst control were up to 5 and 11 times more likely to develop cancer. I believe the link between diabetes and cancer, especially breast cancer, is a new area of research inquiry. The first person I found who discussed this link at length was Dr. Bob Arnot, in his book The Breast Cancer Prevention Diet. The link between blood sugar levels and cancer are certainly an issue worth keeping in mind. Had I known there might be a link, I would have been far more proactive in breast cancer prevention concerning my diet and lifestyle after pregnancy -- rather than assuming the gestational diabetes a health issue limited to pregnancy.