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An article posted by the ADA on Diabetes Stops Here website (http://diabetesstopshere.org/2011/10/13/diabetes-gender-differences/)

What’s a girl to do? Looking at diabetes’ gender differences

Posted on October 13, 2011 by ADA

It goes without saying there are countless differences between men and women. And, while some of these are downright obvious and in many cases, quite humorous (hello, Venus & Mars debate), others are far more serious. This is the case with diabetes.

A recent piece from Diabetes Forecast revealed, from a health standpoint, women with diabetes have it worse than men with the disease. Studies show they are at higher risk for developing heart disease, kidney disease and depression than men who have diabetes, despite the fact women typically have longer life expectancies.

Researchers haven’t pinpointed the exact reason for the diabetes gender difference, but suspect it’s due to a combination of factors. For example, clinicians are unsure why heart disease risk goes up in women with diabetes but they do know heart attacks are worse because women experience different symptoms and may not recognize it as quickly. Another theory behind the gap relates to medical care. There is evidence women with diabetes may get less effective care than men, so medical conditions beyond diabetes may go unrecognized.

For any woman with diabetes reading this, we’re sure this is overwhelming and perhaps a little scary… but it doesn’t mean your health is out of your control. What it does mean is you need to pay extra close attention and ensure you’re getting the medical care you deserve. And, as always, don’t underestimate the power of good lifestyle choices, like eating well and exercising regularly. Remember, a few small changes now can lead to big payoff in the long run.

References

American Diabetes Association. (2011, October 13). What’s a girl to do? Looking at diabetes’ gender differences. Retrieved October 15, 2011 from http://diabetesstopshere.org/2011/10/13/diabetes-gender-differences/