Did Your Periods Start Early? You Might Have Type Two Diabetes

How is the risk of type two diabetes linked to the age you got your first period?

The age at which you get your first period may determine your diabetes risk.

(Photo: iStockphoto)

Researchers from Zhengzhou university have found that women whose periods start earlier have higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.

According to Dr Stephanie Faubion, NAMS medical director,

“This study of rural Chinese women indicates that the average age of menarche is delayed relative to western countries at 16.1 years and is linked with lower risk of type 2 diabetes. Earlier onset of menses (14 years) was associated with diabetes in later life, likely driven by adult BMI. Other factors such as nutrition and BMI in childhood may also play a role in this association.”

The research also found that body mass index (BMI) plays a major role in the risk for type 2 diabetes as it partially mediates the association.

The study observed 15,346 postmenopausal women in rural China to investigate whether the first occurrence of menstruation is linked with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

Taking into account all the factors, the findings showed those women who started their periods at the age of 14 or before had a higher risk as compared to women whose periods started after the age of 16 or 17.

The risk of disease reduces by 6 percent with each year of delay in menarche (the first occurence of menstruation).

Type 2 disease has become a very common disease worldwide and is emerging as a global health concern.

In 2015, nearly 8.8 per cent of people were affected by it across the world, which is expected to increase to 10.4 percent by 2040.