It has been known for a while that people with cystic fibrosis are at greater risk for developing cancer and diabetes. Researchers from Dundee University in the UK have announced a breakthrough in their understanding of cystic fibrosis and, with it, a better understanding of the disease's link to diabetes.

Cystic fibrosis sufferers have difficulty maintaining a normal body weight. It turns out that a protein which regulates fat levels in humans does not function normally in people with cystic fibrosis, so they are often very thin and can lose weight very quickly if they become ill. The researchers say this protein is the previously unidentified link between cystic fibrosis, cancer and diabetes. That is, it is the common factor that would explain why diabetes is a common problem for people with cystic fibrosis. According to Dr. Anil Mehta, of the Cystic Fibrosis Database at Dundee University, almost half of all cystic fibrosis patients develop diabetes.