Research from Queen Mary University of London highlights distinct health trajectories for men and women after a type 2 diabetes diagnosis, underscoring the need for personalised treatment approaches to address mental health in women and cardiovascular risks in men.
A recent UK study published in PLOS Medicine has found that the health paths men and women follow after a type 2 diabetes diagnosis can diverge sharply, with women more likely to develop mental health problems and men more likely to face cardiovascular and kidney complications. Researchers at Queen Mary University of London said the findings point to a need for more tailored prevention and treatment strategies rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Type 2 diabetes is a long-term metabolic condition in which the body does not use insulin properly or does not make enough of it, leaving blood sugar levels elevated. The condition affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide and is linked to serious complications including heart disease, kidney failure and depression. The PLOS Medicine paper notes that global prevalence is still rising, underlining the public health importance of understanding how those complications develop over time.
The study analysed medical records from nearly 29,000 people in the UK who were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes between 2010 and 2020. Men made up 62% of the cohort, with an average age at diagnosis of about 54, while women were slightly older on average. Over the following years, 39% of the participants experienced at least one major health event, but the timing and nature of those events differed by sex and age.
Women were more likely to develop mental health conditions after diagnosis, with 8.1% affected compared with 5.3% of men, according to the study. The researchers also found that younger women were especially prone to earlier and higher-than-expected mental health complications, suggesting that routine psychological screening could be particularly valuable in diabetes care.
Men, by contrast, had higher rates of cardiovascular disease and end-stage kidney disease. Cardiovascular conditions affected 8.4% of men versus 5.3% of women, while high blood pressure was the most common complication overall, affecting 21.1% of men and 20.2% of women. The researchers said men should be monitored more closely for heart and kidney problems, especially in the early years after diagnosis.
The study also found that both men and women who developed diabetes alongside a mental health disorder were at higher risk of premature death than those who followed other disease patterns. According to the authors, that reinforces the case for treatment plans that take account of sex, age and broader health status when managing type 2 diabetes.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
