Expert review identifies the overlooked and under-recognised psychosocial impact of diabetes for woman across the lifespan
This week is Women’s Health Week in Australia (7-11 Sept), a time to shine a spotlight on the health and wellbeing of women. Diabetes intersects with reproductive and sexual health and for women living with diabetes, different life stages can present unique challenges. From menstruation to menopause, these stages can influence both diabetes management and overall wellbeing. Women may also face social and cultural expectations that shape their experience of diabetes. In addition, women with diabetes are also more likely to experience diabetes distress and mental health problems. As a result, managing diabetes can become more complex.
What did this study do?
A recent review published in Diabetic Medicine explored how women’s health and life experiences affect life with diabetes. The researchers reviewed previous studies and identified common challenges and unmet needs faced by women. Their findings provide important insights to help inform future research, policy, and diabetes care.
What did this study find?
While diabetes care often focuses on biomedical outcomes, such as glucose levels and complications, less attention is given to women’s psychosocial needs. As women move through different life stages, their experiences and support needs can change. This highlights the need for more personalised and person-centred diabetes care, education, and support.
Hormonal changes can affect diabetes management. The review identified hormonal changes across the reproductive life cycle as an important factor affecting diabetes management. These changes can cause significant fluctuations in glucose levels, making day-to-day management more difficult.
Life transitions can increase emotional distress. Menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause were associated with increased self-management demands and greater emotional burden. Alongside social expectations and caregiver responsibilities, women can experience increased anxiety, diabetes distress, guilt, frustration, and stigma during these periods. Yet psychosocial support may not be included in routine diabetes care or respond to such life transitions.
Sexual health is often overlooked. Sexual health was identified as an important issue. Sexual difficulties were found to be common among women living with diabetes and were linked to depression, anxiety, and body image concerns. However, sexual health is not routinely discussed as part of diabetes care.
Many women feel unsupported. Some women reported feeling unsupported or dismissed when seeking help for diabetes issues related to women’s health. Particularly when discussing issues related to menstruation, menopause, or sexual health. The review also found that health professionals lack practical guidance on managing these challenges.
What’s next for research, policy, and care?
Women with diabetes are seeking care and support that reflects the realities of their daily lives. Greater recognition and understanding of women’s experiences across different life stages is essential. Current models of diabetes care should place more emphasis on women’s specific health, emotional wellbeing, and support needs alongside clinical outcomes. More women-centred research is also needed to strengthen the evidence base and inform policy and practice. Creating safe and supportive environments where women are heard, understood, and comfortable discussing women’s health is an important step towards improving diabetes care across the life course.
For more ACBRD blogs on diabetes related women’s health visit here.
Reference:
Forde R, Forbes A, Adams D, Esmer AC, Davidsen E, de Wit M, Hadjiconstantinou M, Hashim R, Munda A, Nefs G, Pedrosa HC. Women living with diabetes: Overlooked and under‐recognised, the psychosocial impact. Diabetic Medicine. 2026 Jun 18:e70389.
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