Men are at higher risk of diabetes, but more women die from the disease

Millions of people are living with diabetes around the world. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) recorded approximately 463 million adults (20-79 years) with diabetes in 2019 and predicts that the number will increase to 700 million by 2045. According to the IDF Diabetes Atlas, 9th edition of 2019, the 79% of adults with diabetes lived in low- and middle-income countries. Also Read – PCOS and Diabetes: What’s the Connection?

While the prevalence of diabetes is known to be slightly higher in men than in women, women are more affected by its consequences. Also read: Most humans are at risk for type 2 diabetes as insulin evolution hits a roadblock

Why are men at higher risk for type 2 diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes, also known as insulin-dependent diabetes, occurs when the pancreas produces little or no insulin, a hormone necessary to allow sugar (glucose) to enter cells for energy. In type 2 diabetes, a person still produces insulin, but the body does not use it efficiently. This is called insulin resistance. Men, especially between the ages of 35 and 54, are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than women. Also read: effective tips to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes

A study from the University of Glasgow in Scotland suggested that men may be “biologically more susceptible” to the disease.

Being overweight or obese and storing fat in the abdomen are known to increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Researchers from the University of Glasgow said that men need less weight gain than women to develop the disease.

Fat distribution is one possible explanation for men’s tendency to develop diabetes with lower BMI levels. Generally, women store more fat subcutaneously (under the skin) in areas like the hips and thighs, but men tend to store more fat in the abdomen, they noted.

In addition to a higher BMI, a variety of factors can increase your risk of developing type 2, including age, race, family history, and personal history of gestational diabetes or prediabetes.

Some studies have suggested that lower levels of testosterone may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes in men by increasing visceral fat deposition. And it is estimated that 1/6 of all men have low testosterone levels.

Women with diabetes face more serious consequences

Globally, diabetes kills more women than men. This is mainly because women with diabetes have a higher risk of developing heart disease than men. In general, women with diabetes are more likely than men with the disease to have poor blood glucose control, be obese, and have high blood pressure and unhealthy cholesterol levels. Therefore, women with diabetes are more likely to develop heart disease than men with diabetes.

A 2007 study published in the European Heart Journal found that heart disease is more deadly in women with diabetes than in men with the disease. A Finnish study also revealed that heart attacks are typically more deadly for women with diabetes than for men with the disease.

Over time, poorly controlled diabetes can lead to kidney damage, and this complication is worse for women than it is for men. Women are also much more likely to develop diabetes-related depression. Menopause further adds to the problems for women with diabetes. Diabetes, along with the change in hormones, can lead to a further rise in blood glucose, weight gain, and exacerbate previous health problems. All of this makes diabetes much more deadly for women compared to men.

Posted: Nov 16, 2020 8:47 am | Updated: November 16, 2020 8:48 am