This association is stronger in women suffering from overweight or obesity, a poor quality diet and insufficient physical activity.
- Irregular and long menstrual cycles have been linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
Having disrupted menstrual cycles increases the risk of developing diabetes, according to a new study published in JAMA. In this research involving 75,546 women, “irregular and long menstrual cycles have been associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes”, write the authors. “These associations were stronger in women with overweight or obesity, poor diet quality, and insufficient physical activity,” they continue.
Long and irregular cycles
Specifically, women reporting irregular menstrual cycles between the age brackets of 14-17, 18-22, and 29-46 were, respectively, 32%, 41%, and 66% more likely to develop diabetes. type 2 than women reporting normal cycles in the same age group.
Similarly, women reporting a usual cycle length of 40 days or more between the ages of 18-22 and 29-46 were, respectively, 37% and 50% more likely to develop type 1 diabetes. 2 during follow-up than women reporting a usual cycle length of 26 to 31 days in the same age groups.
An early indicator of the risk of developing type 2 diabetes
“These results indicate that menstrual cycle characteristics may serve as an early indicator of long-term risk for developing type 2 diabetes, and that lifestyle interventions may be a useful strategy for reducing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. type 2 in women with menstrual cycle dysfunction”, conclude the authors.
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