MEN are more at risk of developing type 2 diabetes than women, according to new research by Scottish scientists.
Academics at Glasgow University found men have to gain less weight than women to develop the condition, which is linked to obesity and affects around 200,000 people in Scotland.
The research was carried out with scientists from the Scottish Diabetes Research Network, and may explain why men have higher rates of diabetes in many parts of the world.
It showed men develop the condition at a lower Body Mass Index (BMI) than women.
Professor Naveed Sattar, of the Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, who led the research, said: “Being overweight is a major risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes although there are many other factors involved too, such as age, ethnicity and genetics.
“Previous research has indicated middle-aged men are at a higher risk of developing diabetes than women and one possible explanation is men have to gain less weight than women to develop the condition. In other words, men appear to be at higher risk for diabetes.”
Researchers analysed data from almost 52,000 men and 43,000 women in Scotland with diabetes and compared BMI rates which had been recorded within a year of diagnosis, and the age of the patients. They also took into account other factors such as smoking rates.
The results, published in the journal Diabetologia, showed the average BMI at diabetes diagnosis in men was 31.83, compared with 33.69 in women.
Mr Sattar said: “The results from this research confirm an inverse relationship between BMI and age at diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. But they also confirm our hypothesis that men have to gain less weight to develop diabetes.”
Type 2 diabetes results in the body being unable to regulate the production of glucose in the blood and if not diagnosed early, or poorly managed, can result in blindness and amputation or a shortened life expectancy from heart disease, stroke and kidney failure.
Dr Victoria King, head of research at Diabetes UK, said: “It is worrying men develop type 2 diabetes at a higher rate than their female counterparts. Research like this will help us understand reasons why and provide greater insight into what we can do to improve prevention of type 2 diabetes.
“Diabetes UK is calling on both men and women to reduce their chances of developing type 2 diabetes by losing any excess weight, eating a healthy, balanced diet and by taking regular physical activity.”
The number of middle-aged and older people with diabetes in Scotland has risen in the past eight years from 100,000 to 228,000.
Glasgow has a higher incidence than most other cities, at 6.6% of the population compared to a UK average of 4.4%. Figures show the city could be facing a diabetes timebomb in the next two decades, with estimates suggesting one in 12 in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area will have the condition by 2030.
A study earlier this year found fatty food trips a genetic switch in the body that can trigger diabetes. It has also been revealed crash dieting could reverse the condition.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article