Implications of neuroendocrine tumor and diabetes mellitus on patient outcomes and care: a matched case–control study

AIM: We aimed to determine the impact of diabetes mellitus (DM) on survival of patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and of NETs on glycemic control. PATIENTS & METHODS: Patients with newly diagnosed NETs with/without DM were matched 1:1 by age, sex and diagnosis year (2005–2017), and survival compared (Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional hazards). Mixed models compared hemoglobin A(1c) (HbA(1c)) and glucose during the year after cancer diagnosis. RESULTS: Three-year overall survival was 72% (95% CI: 60–86%) for DM patients versus 80% (95% CI: 70–92%) for non-DM patients (p = 0.82). Hazard ratio was 1.33 (95% CI: 0.56–3.16; p = 0.51); mean DM HbA(1c), 7.3%. CONCLUSION: DM did not adversely affect survival of patients with NET. NET and its treatment did not affect glycemic control.