Do men develop type 2 diabetes at lower body mass indices than women?

Logue, J. et al. (2011) Do men develop type 2 diabetes at lower body mass indices than women? Diabetologia, 54(12), pp. 3003-3006. (doi: 10.1007/s00125-011-2313-3) (PMID:21959958) (PMCID:PMC4220585)

Abstract

Aims/hypothesis: To describe the associations between age, sex and BMI at diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, and test the hypothesis that men are diagnosed with diabetes at lower average BMI than women of similar age.<p></p> Methods: Linear regression was used to estimate and compare the relationship between age and BMI at diagnosis among 51,920 men and 43,137 women included in a population-based diabetes register in Scotland for whom an index BMI measurement was taken within 1 year of diabetes diagnosis. We also examined HbA1c values by sex within the same timescale.<p></p> Results: Mean BMI closest to date of diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus was 31.83 kg/m2 (SD 5.13) in men and 33.69 kg/m2 (SD 6.43) in women. The inverse relationship between age and BMI at diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus was significantly steeper in women than in men (slope estimate in men −0.12 kg/m2 per year [95% CI −0.13, −0.12] women −0.18 kg/m2 per year [95% CI −0.18, −0.17], p < 0.0001 for formal test of interaction). Mean BMI difference was most marked at younger ages and narrowed with advancing age. However, HbA1c levels within 1 year of diagnoses were broadly similar in men and women.<p></p> Conclusions/interpretation: Men are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at lower BMI than women across the age range. This observation may help explain why type 2 diabetes is more common among middle-aged men in populations of European extraction. Whether the same pattern is also observed in other ethnic groups requires confirmation.<p></p>

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Logue, Dr Jennifer
• Authors: Logue, J., Walker, J. J., Colhoun, H. M., Leese, G. P., Lindsay, R. S., McKnight, J. A., Morris, A. D., Pearson, D. W., Petrie, J. R., Philip, S., Wild, S. H., and Sattar, N.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health
• Journal Name: Diabetologia
• Publisher: Springer-Verlag
• ISSN: 0012-186X
• ISSN (Online): 1432-0428
• Published Online: 30 September 2011