STM Journals Peer-reviewed research from Consortium e-Learning Network

Research and Reviews: A Journal of Health Professions Original Research

Recent Advances in Diabetes Management: A Gendered Approach in North India

  1. J. Samuel KAMANDA Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Desh Bhagat University, Punjab
  2. Atul Khajuria Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Desh Bhagat University, Punjab
  3. Eric Kwasi Elliason Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Desh Bhagat University, Punjab
  4. Stephen Monday Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Desh Bhagat University, Punjab

Abstract

Background: Diabetes Mellitus remains a major public health issue in India, with disproportionate burdens observed in North India and among women. Objectives: To examine gender and residence-based disparities in glycemic control, medication adherence, and healthcare access among adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) in North India. Page 2 of 7 Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 800 adults with T2DM across five North Indian states. Data on clinical parameters, healthcare access, and behavioral factors were collected. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess associations across gender and urban-rural residence. Results: Women had significantly higher mean HbA1c levels compared to men (8.5% vs. 7.8%, p<0.001), lower medication adherence (54% vs. 68%, p=0.003), and reduced access to specialist care (58% vs. 72%, p=0.01). Rural women showed the greatest disparities, with higher HbA1c levels (9.0% vs. 8.2%, p=0.002), reduced access to glucose monitoring (18% vs. 45%, p<0.001), and higher economic constraints (78% earning <₹10,000/month). Social norms, economic dependency, and urban-rural divides emerged as significant barriers to care. Conclusion: Substantial gender and geographic disparities exist in diabetes management in North India, particularly among rural women. Targeted gender-sensitive policies and equitable healthcare resource distribution are crucial to improving outcomes.

Keywords

References (10)

  1. GBD 2021 Diabetes Collaborators. Global, regional, and national burden of diabetes from 1990 to 2021, with projections of prevalence to 2050: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Lancet. 2023;402(10397):203-234. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01301-6.
  2. Anjana RM, Unnikrishnan R, Deepa M, et al. Metabolic non-communicable disease health report of India: the ICMR-INDIAB national cross-sectional study (ICMR INDIAB-17). Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2023;11(7):474-489. doi:10.1016/S2213-8587(23)00119-5.
  3. Kautzky-Willer A, Harreiter J, Pacini G. Sex and gender differences in risk, pathophysiology and complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Endocr Rev. 2016;37(3):278-316. doi:10.1210/ER.2015-1137.
  4. Sachdeva S, Khalique N, Ansari MA, Khan Z, Mishra SK, Sharma G. Cultural determinants: addressing barriers to holistic diabetes care. J Soc Health Diabetes. 2015;3(1):33-38. doi:10.4103/2321-0656.140885.
  5. Patel V, Parikh R, Nandraj S, Balasubramaniam P, Narayan K, Paul VK, et al. Assuring health coverage for all in India. Lancet. 2015;386(10011):2422-2435. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(15)00955-1.
  6. Sharma M, Aggarwal S, Sharma R. Rural-urban disparities in diabetes care: A cross-sectional analysis of India's National Family Health Survey-5. J Epidemiol Glob Health. 2023;13(1):78-89.
  7. Patel S, Verma M, Singh K. Gender disparities in healthcare access and glycemic control among North Indian adults with diabetes. J Diabetes Res. 2022;2022:1-9. (Not verified.)
  8. Sharma P, Gupta R, Kapoor D. Socio-economic determinants of diabetes management in rural North India: A cross-sectional analysis. BMC Public Health. 2023;23(1):567.
  9. Singh R, Bhansali A, Kumar V. Occupational stress and diabetes management in men: Insights from a North Indian cohort. Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2022;26(3):231-237.
  10. Singh K, Sharma S, Gupta R. Masculinity, stress, and non-communicable diseases: A qualitative study of men with diabetes in North India. Soc Sci Med. 2022;292:114569.
Support