Archive · 1 Sep 2026
Study finds diabetes complications differ between men and women
Diabetes can affect men and women in different ways.
High blood pressure was the most common problem seen after type 2 diabetes.
Men were more likely to develop heart or kidney disease.
Women were more likely to be diagnosed with some mental health conditions.
Men usually developed many complications earlier than women.
Women visited healthcare services more often and received more long-term prescriptions.
People with diabetes who later developed mental health conditions had a higher risk of dying early.
Researchers said doctors should check mental health, heart health, and kidney health in ways suited to each person.
Women with diabetes were more likely than men to develop anxiety, depression, or somatoform disorder: 8.1% versus 5.3%.
Men were more likely to develop cardiovascular or kidney disease: 8.4% compared with 5.3% among women.
Hypertension was the most common complication after type 2 diabetes across all ages and sexes.
Men generally developed complications earlier, while women had later events and used healthcare services more often.
Researchers recommended sex- and age-specific care, including mental health screening and earlier cardiovascular and kidney monitoring.
- Who
- Researchers studied men and women with diabetes and their later disease patterns.
- What
- The study found differences by sex in diabetes-related complications, healthcare use, and premature mortality.
- Why
- Researchers said the findings support healthcare strategies tailored to sex and age, including mental health screening and earlier monitoring for cardiovascular and kidney disease.
- Most common complication
- Hypertension after type 2 diabetes across all ages and sexes.
- Mental health conditions
- 8.1% among women versus 5.3% among men.
- Cardiovascular or kidney disease
- 8.4% among men versus 5.3% among women.
- Hypertension trajectories
- 21.1% among men versus 20.2% among women.
- Timing of complications
- Men generally experienced earlier onset, while women generally had later events.
- Mortality finding
- Among those who developed mental health conditions after diabetes, men died on average nine years younger than women.
- Study limitation
- The study cannot prove causation, and differences in mental health diagnoses may partly reflect healthcare-seeking behavior.