CLL and Type 2 diabetes is there a correlation with the diseases?

Welcome @deananbeck. People with type 2 diabetes have a higher-than-normal risk of developing some types of cancer.

Can you tell me a bit more about your question? Are you concerned about managing diabetes with cancer treatments? Have you been diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)?

My husband was diagnosed with CLL 6 years ago. He was diagnosed with type two diabetes. When he was diagnosed with CLL he also developed a tumor on the back of his tongue and did 18 rounds of chemotherapy. All of this happened in a short period of time after being diagnosed with CLL. His blood shows healthy levels, but he is very weak, tired. He also has developed skin cancer. His skin doctor removes and biopsies every check up. Right now he has a toe with a concerning growth. So much is going on with his health we are never sure what is going on. Is there a correlation with the CLL and the diabetes. CLL and skin cancers.

Good morning @deananbeck, Oh goodness, your husband is certainly getting a triple whammy with his diagnosis of CLL, diabetes, and these skin cancers. Any time we have cancer, especially a leukemia, (there are many forms) our immune systems are greatly impaired. Leukemia is a disease of the blood/bone marrow…the immune cell factory of our bodies. When that’s not working 100% we have a reduced level of immune protection against things like skin cancers, viruses, fungal infections and bacteria.

I found some informative articles for you that might help you and your husband have a better understanding of what’s happening.

Here’s a video from Patient Power with Dr Jeff Sharman, MD
-How Should Patients Manage CLL and Diabetes?
https://www.patientpower.info/chronic-lymphocytic-leukemia/treatments/how-should-patients-manage-cll-and-diabetes
This article from My Leukemia Team.com discusses the possible connection of Diabetes and CLL

-What is the connection between diabetes and leukemia?
https://www.myleukemiateam.com/resources/leukemia-and-diabetes-whats-the-connection
Then we get to the skin cancer connection. There are many articles online discussing the connection between skin cancers and CLL but these two, I felt, summed it up fairly well.
This from the National Institute of Health
Skin cancers associated with CLL
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23073122/
And this article from Ash Publications
https://ashpublications.org/blood/article/128/22/4772/101692/Skin-Cancers-Among-Chronic-Lymphocytic-Leukemia
What medications is your husband taking for his CLL? I’m expecting he’s on an immunosuppressant to help slow the progression of his disease. Just as the name implies, this medication will suppress his immune system making him more susceptible to skin cancers. Big hats, long sleeves and sunscreen are his best friends at this point.

Is his diabetes pretty well managed?