Diabetes and Wellbeing: Does Diabetes Have a Gender-Wise Impact?

Understanding how diabetes impacts men and women

Key highlights or summary

  • Type 2 diabetes is more prevalent in men than in women and could be due to more visceral fat in the former.
  • Men diagnosed with diabetes are less obese than their female counterparts.
  • Women are more susceptible to diabetes-related complications like heart disease, stroke, or kidney disease than men.
  • The impact of diabetes on mental health is more profound in women than in men. Hence, women with diabetes have a greater risk of developing depression.
  • The sexual health of both men and women appears to be adversely affected by diabetes. While diabetic men may have erectile dysfunction, diabetic women may experience vaginal dryness and decreased sexual drive.
  • Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to complications in pregnancy like high blood pressure, stillbirth, and cesarean delivery.
  • Women with type 2 diabetes have an increased chance of developing vaginal yeast infections and urinary tract infections.

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