Type 2 diabetes: Marriage risk factor

All content is checked by medical journalists.

Munich (netoktor.de) - Married couples share the house, the bed and sometimes even chronic illnesses. US researchers have now found out. According to this, there is a connection between a partnership and a higher risk of type 2 diabetes.

Six studies with 75,000 couples

Enjoying an ice cream together, emptying the gummy bear bag in front of the TV and cuddling in the double bed until noon on Sundays - couples often have the same lifestyle and similar habits. But the intimate togetherness does not only have advantages, shows a study.

McGill University researchers compared six studies involving a total of 75,498 couples to find out whether type 2 diabetes in one partner increases the risk of developing the disease in the other. To do this, they evaluated data on the age of the participants and whether and when the participants were diagnosed with diabetes.

26 percent higher risk

"We found that the risk of developing type 2 diabetes is 26 percent higher if the partner already has this condition," says study author Dr. Kaberi Dasgupta. The reason: Whether someone gets type 2 diabetes depends heavily on lifestyle - and this is often similar for spouses. If one eats unhealthily and does very little exercise, the other often does not live healthier either. This increases the risk of diabetes for both of them.

Men particularly benefit

"If diabetes was diagnosed in a spouse, the other should also be checked more closely for a possible disease," the researchers interpret their results. Men in particular could benefit from this: they generally go to preventive check-ups less often than women, the study confirms, which is why their diabetes is often diagnosed later.

Sick lifestyle

Around six million people in Germany live with diabetes - 90 percent of them suffer from type 2 diabetes. With this metabolic disease, the body can no longer properly use the carbohydrates it has consumed. As a result, the affected person's blood sugar level rises. In addition to genetic causes, obesity and lack of exercise are among the main triggers of type 2 diabetes. (jb)

Source: Leong A. et al. Spousal diabetes as a diabetes risk factor: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Medicine. 01/24/2014.

Tags:  teenager book tip fitness