Common blood sugar tests could identify early bowel cancer risk

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2026-04-17 00:01

New Zealand

Photo by Jane Korsak on Unsplash

Bowel cancer is increasing in young NZers, especially among Māori, and experts say a big factor behind this could be more sugar in our diets - particularly from sugary drinks. This can affect blood sugar control, cause inflammation, and weaken the protective lining of the bowel, which increases cancer risk. The authors of a new NZMJ Viewpoint article suggest that easy and cheap tests like those for glucose and blood sugar could show who's at higher risk of bowel cancer early on, so they can have follow up tests. They also say that cutting sugary drinks is an "achievable and impactful" way to address the rise in bowel cancer.

News release

From: New Zealand Medical Journal

Colorectal cancer is increasing in New Zealanders under 50, particularly among Māori. High intake of sugary drinks may contribute by disrupting blood sugar control, increasing inflammation and weakening the bowel’s protective lining. Simple blood tests already used in general practice, such as glucose and HbA1c (a measure of average blood sugar over time), could help identify people at higher metabolic risk earlier in life, creating opportunities for earlier interventions, including reducing sugary drink consumption, to help reduce future bowel cancer risk.

Journal/
conference: New Zealand Medical Journal

Organisation/s: University of Otago

Funder: N/A

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