Why Women With Type 2 Diabetes Are Diagnosed Later Than Men
1 min read
Summary
Men are 18m more likely than women globally to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, but researchers believe health authorities are failing to identify women at risk due to a variety of social and biological factors.
Compared with men, hormonal changes in women mean that type 2 diabetes risk appears later and presents differently, making it more difficult to diagnose, according to experts.
Major hormonal shifts, such as pregnancy and menopause, affect how type 2 diabetes develops and progresses.
During menopause, for example, the decline in estrogen contributes to a decline in the body’s ability to manage blood sugar effectively, making women more vulnerable to type 2 diabetes.
Researchers are now urging healthcare providers to change the way they test for diabetes to identify at-risk women earlier.
