A comprehensive medical study has shown that a woman reaching “menopause” does not directly increase her risk of developing diabetes, which contradicts common belief.
“Menopause”
The researchers based their study on the analysis of information pertaining to approximately 147,000 women from the “UK Biobank” database, where they were followed for 14.5 years.
During the study period, about 4.5% of the participants were diagnosed with diabetes. Although women who began “menopause” at a younger age recorded a slightly higher rate of infection, this association no longer existed after taking into account other factors such as age, body mass index, lifestyle, and associated chronic diseases.
The study clarified that the factors most associated with diabetes included obesity, smoking, low vegetable intake, high salt content in food, and the use of cholesterol-lowering medications. The researchers concluded that these factors, not hormonal changes, are the main reason for the increased rates of diabetes among some women.
For its part, “The Menopause Society,” which specializes in women’s health, considered the results of this study promising and confirmed that “menopause” is beyond a woman’s control, while the chances of developing diseases such as diabetes can be reduced by following a healthy lifestyle, with a focus on proper nutrition, exercise, and quitting bad habits.
