The Link Between Abuse and Diabetes Risk
Overview: The Troubling Connection
A new study shows that both abuse in adulthood and mistreatment during childhood can raise the risk of developing diabetes later in life.
Researchers from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, analyzed data from over 25,000 low-income people to study the link between abuse or violence at different life stages and diabetes risk.
The results underscore the need for effective prevention and intervention efforts for abuse and violence.
The Numbers: Abuse and Risk for Diabetes
Researchers found that adults who had experienced violence or abuse were more likely to develop diabetes. Specifically, the risk of developing diabetes was 23% higher for these individuals.
But the risk wasn’t just higher for those who had experienced abuse as adults; children who were abused or neglected also had a higher likelihood of getting diabetes when they grew up.
Most alarmingly, for those who had suffered both as children and adults, the risk was even higher.
The study revealed that these individuals had a 35% higher risk of developing diabetes compared to those who hadn’t experienced abuse or neglect.
The findings were consistent regardless of race or gender, which suggests that the increased risk of diabetes due to abuse and violence is a universal issue, affecting both men and women, Black and White.
What Needs to be Done?
The study’s lead researcher, Maureen Sanderson, emphasized the importance of violence prevention and intervention programs.
She stated that these findings, which were collected before the COVID-19 pandemic added extra stress to people’s lives, highlight the urgent need for action.
By helping people cope with or escape abuse, we might not only improve their immediate circumstances but also protect their long-term health.
The study makes it clear that the impact of abuse and violence extends beyond immediate harm and mental health to include significant long-term health risks like diabetes.
A Call to Action
If you or someone you know is suffering from abuse, it’s crucial to seek help, not just for immediate safety but also for long-term health.
The study suggests that abuse, whether in childhood or adulthood, is a serious risk factor for developing chronic conditions like diabetes.
Therefore, it is critical for healthcare providers, social workers, and community leaders to work together in implementing effective strategies to prevent and deal with abuse and violence.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about a cure for type 2 diabetes, and why insulin is more expensive for people with diabetes.
For more information about diabetes, please see recent studies about How to eat to prevent type 2 diabetes and 5 vitamins that may prevent complications in diabetes.
The study was published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
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