Diabetes has an emotional side - especially for women

Diabetes may affect more than blood sugar - and for women, the emotional toll could emerge earlier than expected.

A large UK study has found that women diagnosed with type 2 diabetes were more likely than men to later develop mental health conditions. Researchers examined health records of 28,720 people diagnosed between 2010 and 2020. In the years that followed, 8.1 per cent of women developed mental health problems, compared with 5.3 per cent of men.

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Men, however, showed a different pattern. They were more likely to develop heart and kidney problems after diagnosis. High blood pressure remained the most common health problem for both sexes.

The findings also carried a worrying message: people living with both type 2 diabetes and a mental health condition faced a greater risk of dying earlier.

Researchers say the differences suggest diabetes care should not follow a one-size-fits-all approach. Younger women, in particular, may benefit from regular conversations about mood, anxiety and emotional wellbeing as part of routine care. For men, earlier attention to heart and kidney health may be especially important.

Diabetes care, the study suggests, should look beyond sugar levels and recognise that women and men may face very different health risks.