Women with endometriosis at 46% higher risk of diabetes, study suggests

A recent study suggests that women with endometriosis may be 46% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes compared to those without the condition. Endometriosis, characterized by the growth of tissue similar to uterine lining outside the uterus, leads to severe pelvic pain, painful periods, and fertility issues. Researchers from George Mason University analyzed data from nearly three million women in the Utah Population Database, including around 100,000 diagnosed with endometriosis, between 1996 and 2021.

The study, published in Diabetologia, found that endometriosis was associated with a 46% higher risk of type 2 diabetes. The researchers discovered that diabetes risk varied across different forms of endometriosis, suggesting broader long-term health implications than previously recognized. Chronic inflammation in endometriosis may contribute to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes development.

Lead author Fuzak Nunziato emphasized that the findings highlight the condition's impact on more than just reproductive health. The association between endometriosis and higher diabetes risk was strongest among premenopausal women and women without obesity, groups not typically considered at high risk for type 2 diabetes. Certain forms of endometriosis, particularly extra-pelvic endometriosis, exhibited a stronger link to diabetes.

If confirmed by further research, the findings could aid clinicians in identifying women with endometriosis at higher risk for type 2 diabetes and benefitting from earlier screening or prevention efforts.