Lifestyle intervention programs are effective in the prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in high-risk populations. However, most studies only give limited information about the influence of sex and/or gender effectiveness of these interventions. So far, similar outcome was reported for diabetes progression and weight loss. Nevertheless, long-term data on cardiovascular outcome are sparse but favoring women regarding all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. In both men and women, sex hormone imbalances and reproductive disorders are associated with a higher risk of T2DM development. Diabetes prevention approaches are reported for polycystic ovary syndrome, gestational diabetes mellitus, and erectile dysfunction and are presented in this review.
In the surgical treatment options for morbid obese patients, sex and gender differences are present. Choices and preferences of adherence to lifestyle and pharmacological interventions, expectations, treatment effects, and complications are influenced by sex or gender. In general, bariatric surgery is performed more often in women seeking medical/surgical help to lose weight. Men are older and have higher comorbidities and mortality rates and worse follow-up outcome after bariatric surgery. A more gender-sensitive clinical approach, as well as consideration of ethnicity may improve quality of life and increase health and life expectancy in men and women with a high risk for subsequent progression to T2DM. Women with type 2 diabetes (T2D) are less likely to reach the goals for hemoglobin A1c compared with men, and have higher all-cause mortality.
The risk of cardiovascular disease is elevated among both men and women with T2D, however, the risk has declined among men over recent years while it remains stationary in women. Reasons for these sex differences remain unclear, and guidelines for diabetes treatment do not differentiate between sexes. Possible causes for varying outcome include differences in physiology, treatment response, and psychological factors. This review briefly outlines sex differences in hormonal pathophysiology, and thereafter summarizes the literature to date on sex differences in disease course and outcome.
SUMMARY
Some research suggests that where people carry fat may help explain the differences in diabetes rates between the sexes. For example, men have larger amounts of visceral (mostly abdominal) fat than women. Women tend to have more subcutaneous (mostly leg and hip) fat than visceral fat.
Visceral fat tends to be more metabolically active than subcutaneous fat, meaning that the fat itself produces hormones that can affect a person’s health. Having more visceral fat is strongly linked to having a higher risk of metabolic syndrome, including type 2 diabetes.
Women with obesity are also more likely than men to be metabolically healthy. In other words, they have normal blood sugar levels without hypertension or elevated cholesterol. This may explain why men may develop type 2 diabetes while women with the same body mass index (BMI) do not.
Source: https://sweetclinics.com/type-2-diabetes-different-gender-different-treatment/
