A study reveals which gender is most at risk of developing diabetes complications

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A long-term study found that men are more susceptible than women to the major health effects of type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

The results showed that rates of cardiovascular disease, leg, foot and kidney complications, and sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy were all higher in men, regardless of whether they had diabetes for more or less than 10 years.

The researchers noted that the global prevalence of diabetes is similar between men and women, and is expected to rise to 783 million by 2045.

To explore whether there was a gender difference in diabetes-related complications, the researchers relied on survey data from the 45 and Up Study in Australia, a large study of 267,357 people over the age of 45 living in New South Wales.

Survey response data were linked to the medical records of a total of 25,713 people, all of whom had type 1 or type 2 diabetes, to monitor the development of any of the major health problems associated with diabetes.

These problems include cardiovascular disease, such as ischemic heart disease, mini-stroke, and diabetic cardiomyopathy, eye problems, such as cataracts and diabetic retinopathy, and also leg/foot problems, such as peripheral neuropathy (or nerve damage) and tissue inflammation. Cellulitis, osteomyelitis (inflammation of the bones), and minor or major amputation. In addition to kidney problems, such as acute kidney failure, chronic kidney disease, dialysis, and kidney transplantation.

Almost half of the group was between 60 and 74 years old, and more than 57% of them (i.e. 14,697) were men, of whom 39% were overweight (compared to 29% of women) and had a history of heart disease.

Of the 19,277 (75%) diabetic patients, 58% had lived with the disease for less than a decade and 42% had lived with it for 10 years or more.

The results found that men had higher rates of the disease and were more at risk of diabetes-related complications.

Over an average observation period of 10 years, after taking age into account, men were 51% more likely than women to develop cardiovascular disease, 47% more likely to develop leg and foot complications, and 55% more likely to develop kidney complications.

Although women were more likely than men to develop eye complications (57% for men versus 61% for women), men were slightly more likely (14%) to develop diabetic retinopathy.

While complication rates increased with the number of years both men and women lived with diabetes, the gender difference in complication rates persisted.

The researchers say that this study is observational, and as such, no firm conclusions can be drawn about the factors causing complications. There was no information available on possible influencing factors, such as diabetes medications, glucose, blood fats, and blood pressure control.

Although the risk of complications was lower in women with diabetes, it was still high, the researchers stressed.

“Further investigation into the underlying mechanisms of observed sex differences in diabetes complications is needed to guide targeted interventions,” they said.