A thought-provoking Scandinavian study regarding diabetes and marriage suggests that the risk for diabetes is influenced by the home environment, and especially by your partner. Danish researchers from the University of Copenhagen and Aarhus University have found a connection between the BMI – the measure of body fat based on height and weight – of one spouse and the other spouse’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Prevention of diabetes is a major public health goal as the disease has serious complications; some of which may develop by the time the disease is detected. Investigators discovered the risk of diabetes is shared among the entire household, not just one partner.
The Results of the University of Copenhagen and Aarhus University’s Study
In the new study, researchers examined data from 3,649 men and 3,478 women from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging in the UK. They found men had a greater chance of developing diabetes dependent upon their wife’s body mass index.
“We have discovered that you can predict a person’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes based on his or her partner’s BMI. This means that you can tell whether a person has a heightened risk or not on the basis of the partner’s BMI,” said Dr. Jannie Nielsen, the first author of the study. The study appears in the scientific journal Diabetologia.
On a global scale, 422 million adults have diabetes, according to the World Health Organization. And it is estimated 1.5 million deaths are caused by the disease. According to the CDC, more than 100 million U.S. adults are now living with diabetes or pre-diabetes. Specifically, as of 2015, 30.3 million Americans – 9.4% of the U.S. population – have diabetes.
Diabetes can cause complications, such as damage to the heart, kidneys, and eyes. According to the Danish Diabetes Association, 35 percent experience complications by the time they are diagnosed with diabetes. Therefore, early detection is vital.
“The earlier a disease is detected, the higher the potential for successful prevention and treatment. We know that type 2 diabetes can be prevented or postponed, reducing the number of years that patients have to live with the disease. Just as related complications can be postponed through early detection,” Nielsen said.
If type 2 diabetes is detected at an early stage, medical treatment can be postponed, and instead, the patient can begin with lifestyle changes such as eating a healthy diet and getting more physical exercise.
Why Does Marriage Increase the Risk of Diabetes?
These statistics are more common among married couples. Prior studies have shown that spouses are often similar in terms of body weight and exercise habits, because people often marry someone relatable and, in many cases, share dietary and exercise habits when they live together. And, when married partners have a high BMI and poor exercise habits, the development of diabetes is more likely.
In the study, researchers examined whether the heightened risk of developing type 2 diabetes of an obese woman, for example, was merely a result of her own body weight, or if other factors influenced the development of the disease.
This examination led the researchers to find a difference between the two sexes.
“If we adjusted for the women’s own weight, they did not have a heightened risk of developing type 2 diabetes as a result of their husband’s BMI. But even when we adjusted for the weight in men, they had a heightened risk,” Nielsen said.
A man whose wife had a BMI of 30 kg/m2 had a 21% higher risk of developing diabetes than men whose wives had a BMI of 25 kg/m2, regardless of the man’s BMI.
The researchers have not discovered why only men had a heightened risk after a weight adjustment. They do have a theory, however. “We believe it is because women generally decide what we eat at home. That is, women have a greater influence on their spouse’s dietary habits than men do,” Nielsen said. She referred to a U.S. study that showed that women are often responsible for doing the household’s cooking and shopping.
Changing our Approach to Diabetes
Based on the study, Nielsen believes that early detection of type 2 diabetes can be improved if we change our approach to the disease.
“Our approach to type 2 diabetes should not focus on the individual, but instead on, for example, the entire household. If a woman has a heightened risk, there is a strong probability that it is shared by her husband.“We know that men are less inclined to go to the doctor. So if a woman comes to her physician with risk factors for type 2 diabetes, the physician should therefore perhaps ask her to bring her husband next time,” Nielsen said.
Marriage Counseling in Orange County
Many people believe that marriage counseling or couples counseling is only for couples that are having serious issues. However, this isn’t necessarily true. Counseling can help you and your spouse or partner better communicate and learn to keep a healthy relationship working well. If you would like to learn more about how couples counseling may be able to help you, reach out to Jennifer De Francisco.
Jennifer De Francisco, MPA, MSW, LCSW, offers couples counseling in Orange County, CA for couples at any stage in their relationship. Her approach provides a safe environment to open and honestly share thoughts and emotions. Through developing a positive, therapeutic relationship, you and your partner can interpret what is going on, both in your life and in the session, creating a better awareness within your relationship. Contact Jennifer De Francisco by calling (949) 251-8797 or make an appointment online.
Source: University of Copenhagen