A UK-based study highlights how men and women with type 2 diabetes experience different complication patterns, prompting calls for personalised monitoring and treatment approaches to improve outcomes.
A new PLOS Medicine study suggests that type 2 diabetes does not affect men and women in the same way, strengthening the case for more tailored follow-up after diagnosis. The research, based on health records from 28,720 people in the UK who were newly diagnosed with the condition, examined how cardiovascular, kidney and mental health problems developed over time.
According to the study, men were more likely than women to go on to develop heart disease and end-stage kidney disease, and those complications tended to appear earlier after diagnosis. That pattern matters because diabetes can damage blood vessels and organs over time, raising the risk of serious long-term complications well beyond blood sugar control alone.
Women, by contrast, were more likely to experience anxiety and depression after the onset of diabetes. The researchers also noted that mental health problems in people with diabetes can raise the risk of death, underlining the need to treat psychological wellbeing as part of routine diabetes care rather than as an afterthought.
The findings add to a growing body of evidence that sex should be considered more carefully in diabetes management. The researchers said monitoring should not focus only on glucose readings: men may need closer surveillance for heart and kidney disease, while women may benefit from more systematic mental health screening alongside standard treatment.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
