Diabetes more common for men in Ireland

Thu, 19 Jan 2012
A new survey has revealed that the rate of pre-diabetes and diabetes in Ireland for men is double that for Irish women, findings coincide with National Type 2 Diabetes Screening Day in the country.

The screening project into diabetes and cardiac disease, which has been carried out by VHI Healthcare since early 2009, showed that of the 2,500 patients receiving a diabetes diagnosis, 1,600 were for men, while just 900 were for women. The figures were also based on a higher number of women attending the screening, so these numbers represent 18.5 per cent of the men and 8.4 per cent of the women screened.

The study also highlighted risk factors for diabetes, with 76 per cent of men being shown to be overweight or obese as compared with 54 per cent of the women, while 23 per cent of the women and 27 per cent of the men suffered high blood pressure when screened, independent of a previous diagnosis for raised levels of blood pressure.

Bernadette Carr, who is medical director at VHI Healthcare, commented "Early detection and lifestyle changes can improve outcomes, and in the case of pre-diabetes can even delay or prevent progression to diabetes." She also argued that the results of the survey show how important it is for both men and women to be aware of the risk factors for diabetes.

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