Diabetes patients need to keep an eye on their cholesterol, not only for their heart health, but also as a way to prevent cancer.

Researchers in Hong Kong studied over six thousand diabetes patients who were not taking statin drugs to control their cholesterol. They found those with very low, or very high cholesterol had a higher risk for cancer.

Those with low cholesterol had an increased risk for cancers of the digestive organs, those with very high cholesterol had an increased risk for bone, skin and breast cancer.

Researchers say future studies need to adjust for other risk factors for cancer, like lifestyle and socioeconomic status.

Experts say low cholesterol is often linked to extremely poor health, which could be a risk factor for cancer.