Sex differences in type 2 diabetes

Abstract

diseases such as type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity. Many T2D risk factors are behavioural and greatly, but not only, influenced by gender-related determinants, making them modifiable factors. In this review, we focus on sex-related biological differences in the prevalence of diabetes and its biological risk factors, such as obesity, fat distribution, metabolic syndrome and glucose homoeostasis, with a particular interest in the influence of menopause and pregnancy. Globally, men have had a higher prevalence of T2D than women with regional, socioeconomic and age-related variations. Overall, women tend to be more protected from cardiometabolic diseases before menopause than men. However, hormonal variation over the course of life, particularly during menopause, modifies these risks. Similarly to T2D, there are differences in the prevalence of obesity between women and men that change during the lifespan. The link between obesity and T2D seems to be stronger in women compared to men. Various hormones have an impact on glycaemic levels and on body fat and their concentrations and effect on metabolic parameters can differ by sex. Understanding and acknowledging sex-related differences in T2D and its risk factors is important to improve health research, lead to better clinical care, more suitable preventive policies and programs for both women and men.