A latest study reveals that men need to gain little weight in order to develop type 2 diabetes as compared to women. A study carried out by clinical academics at Glasgow University found men developed the disease at a lower Body Mass Index (BMI) than women, explaining why men have higher rates of diabetes in many parts of the world.
Lead researcher Professor Naveed Sattar, of the Institute of Cardiovascular Medical Sciences, says being overweight is a major risk factor for developing the disease, as well as age, ethnicity and genetics.
The team looked at data from 51,920 men and 43,137 women in Scotland with diabetes which showed the mean BMI at diabetes diagnosis in men was 31.83, but 33.69 in women - with the difference most marked at younger ages.
Professor Sattar said, “Previous research has indicated that middle-aged men are at a higher risk of developing diabetes than women and one possible explanation is that men have to gain less weight than women to develop the condition… In other words, men appear to be at higher risk for diabetes.”
Sattar said the reasons why women might develop diabetes later than men could be linked to fat distribution as men carried more fat around their stomach and liver. Type 2 diabetes is caused by too much sugar in the blood which occurs when the body's ability to regulate sugar levels in several different organs becomes disturbed. The condition is linked to excess fat in some of these organs such as the liver and muscles.
Dr Victoria King, head of research at Diabetes UK, said the results were “worrying”. She said both men and women could reduce their chances of developing type 2 diabetes by losing any excess weight, eating a healthy, balanced diet and by taking regular physical activity.
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