By Karim Hammam
Men are more likely than women to develop type 2 diabetes, often at a younger age and a lower body mass index, according to health experts. The disparity is largely driven by differences in body fat distribution.
Body fat distribution drives gender gap
Men tend to accumulate visceral fat around internal organs such as the liver and pancreas, while premenopausal women typically store fat subcutaneously around the hips and thighs. Visceral fat is strongly linked to insulin resistance, a key driver of type 2 diabetes. Dr Henrik Premasundaram, a GP at HCA Healthcare UK, notes that type 2 diabetes accounts for about 90 per cent of diabetes cases and that men’s visceral fat poses a greater metabolic threat.
Genetic factors influence fat storage
Research from King’s College London, part-funded by the British Heart Foundation, has found that genetic variations affect where excess fat is stored. In women, gene versions that promote fat storage around the hips rather than the abdomen are associated with a lower risk of diabetes.
Diabetes prevalence in the UK
Diabetes UK estimates that one in five UK adults — over 12 million people — are living with or at risk of diabetes. About 4.6 million have a diagnosed diabetes, an additional 1.3 million are thought to have undiagnosed type 2 diabetes, and more than 350,000 have type 1 diabetes.
Warning signs and symptoms
The key warning signs of type 1 diabetes are known as the 4Ts: excessive thirst, unusual tiredness, unexplained weight loss, and frequent urination. Type 2 diabetes symptoms can be similar but often develop more gradually and may be less obvious. Common type 2 symptoms include feeling very tired, urinating more than usual, constant thirst, and unintentional weight loss.
Men at risk at lower BMI
Because men’s visceral fat is less visible than women’s subcutaneous fat, they may not appear significantly overweight yet still face a higher risk. Premasundaram emphasizes that men should not assume they are at low risk simply because they are physically active or have a relatively normal body weight.
