Higher Diabetes Rates Found in Men Compared to Women

A recent long-term study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health reveals that men are more susceptible to both type 1 and type 2 diabetes compared to women. The study, which analyzed 25,713 patients from Australia, found that regardless of the duration of the disease, men have higher rates of cardiovascular disease, leg and foot complications, kidney complications, and diabetic retinopathy.

The research team closely monitored the patients for the emergence of diabetes-related symptoms, including cardiovascular disease, eye problems, leg or foot problems, and kidney problems. Among the 19,277 patients with diabetes, 58% had the disease for less than 10 years, while 42% had it for 10 years or longer.

The findings revealed that men were 51% more likely than women to develop cardiovascular disease, 47% more likely to experience leg and foot complications, and 55% more likely to develop kidney complications. Although the disparity between men and women in terms of the risk of other eye complications was minimal, men did have a slightly higher risk of diabetic retinopathy.

These discrepancies in complication rates between men and women persist despite the fact that both genders experience an increase in complication rates as the duration of diabetes progresses.

The researchers emphasize the importance of men paying closer attention to their lifestyle choices and taking proactive measures such as preventive medications or undergoing regular health check-ups to reduce their risk of developing these complications.