Men More At Risk of Developing Diabetes

New research has revealed that men are more at risk of developing type two diabetes than women.

According to a study carried out by clinical academics at Glasgow University, men have to gain less weight to be at risk of diabetes.

In other words men can contract type two diabetes at a lower body mass index (BMI) than women.

Other factors were age, ethnicity and genetics.

Lead researcher Professor Naveed Sattar, of the Institute of Cardiovascular & Medical Sciences, 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.”

Professor Sattar said that one explanation for men contracting diabetes at a younger age than women could be because of typical fat distribution. He further explained that men tend to carry more weight around their middles and livers than women.

Researchers analysed data from 51,920 men and 43,137 women with diabetes.

Meanwhile health experts have warned that diabetes is reaching national crisis level after additional research showed one third of families in Ireland have a relative suffering from the disease.

The Diabetes Federation of Ireland said there are an estimated 30,000 people living with undetected diabetes.

A survey has shown nine out of 10 people with diabetes say developing a complicating illness as a result of their condition is their biggest fear. Some 1,970 people with the disease had a lower-limb amputation during 2005 to 2010 - half the total figure.

Type two 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.

(LB)