Recent research from Karolinska Huddinge University Hospital, presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Venice, Italy, and published in the International Journal of Obesity, reveals why type 2 diabetes is more common in men than women.
The study, led by Dr. Daniel P. Andersson, highlights significant differences in the insulin resistance of adipose tissue between both sexes, especially in people with obesity.
The results show that Men develop type 2 diabetes at a younger age and with a lower weight compared to women.
This is due, in part, to men store more fat in their belly, a known risk factor for diabetes. Additionally, men are more likely to have undetected diagnoses of diabetes, possibly due to a lower willingness to consult a doctor.
What does this mean for men with obesity?
The study focused on measuring the adipose tissue insulin resistance index (AdipoIR) in 2,344 women and 787 men, with an average age of 44 years and an average body mass index of 35 kg/m2.
The findings indicate that men showed higher AdipoIR values than womenbut this difference was particularly notable in individuals with obesity.
In a more detailed analysis, Andersson looked at how fat cells respond to insulin. In men, a tenfold higher concentration of insulin was required to inhibit the breakdown of triglycerides into fatty acids, and this inhibitory effect was also less effective.
Although fat storage capacity was similar between sexes, men with obesity experienced greater insulin resistance in adipose tissue and higher levels of free fatty acids in the blood.
These fatty acids can negatively affect the liver, muscles and pancreas, potentially increasing insulin resistance in these organs and promoting a vicious cycle that could eventually lead to the development of type 2 diabetes.
The researchers conclude that In people with obesity, insulin resistance of adipose tissue is more pronounced in men than in womenwhich could explain why type 2 diabetes more commonly affects men.
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