International Diabetes Federation—Putting Women and Diabetes on the Global Agenda

Abstract

Eighty percent of the 300 million people with diabetes live in low- and middle-income countries and women represent half of this worldwide diabetes community. Gender roles and power dynamics shape vulnerability to diabetes, affect women’s health-seeking behavior and access to health services, and influence the impact of diabetes on women’s health. This creates a set of concerns that are specific to women. In addition, as the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in women of reproductive age has increased, so has the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a form of diabetes with onset or that is first recognised during pregnancy. GDM is a major cause of maternal and infant morbidity and mortality and a major factor in the intergenerational transmission of diabetes. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is responding to this aspect of the global diabetes epidemic by launching a new program on women and diabetes. This programme will build the evidence base, promote awareness and political commitment, support gender-responsive health systems and empower women to take a leading role in diabetes prevention.

47‐Fold rise of diabetes in childbearing age Chilean women: Markov model and cost‐effectiveness of prevention of birth defects

“…Worldwide, there are 143 million of T2DM women, of which 57.2 million (40%) are of childbearing age. These figures are in constant review, as the number of women with diabetes is expected to reach 222 million by the year 2030 …”