A new study have found a connection between the body mass index (BMI) of one of the couple's members and the risk of the other to develop type 2 diabetes.

Jannie Nielsen's team of the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, has proven that the risk of developing type 2 diabetes of a person can be predicted based on the BMI of his spouse.

Nielsen and his colleagues examined data from 3,649 men and 3,478 women.On a global scale, 422 million adults suffer diabetes according to the World Health Organization.

Diabetes can cause complications with serious sequelae, such as damage to the heart, kidneys and eyes.Therefore, its early detection is vital.The sooner the disease is detected, the greater the potential for successful prevention and treatment.Type 2 diabetes can be prevented, or restrained, reducing the number of years that patients will have to live with it.In the same way, related complications can be postponed if detected early.

Coexistence as a couple between a man and a woman can expose them to the same lifestyle.

If type 2 diabetes is detected at an initial stage, medical treatment can be delayed, and instead the patient can begin with lifestyle changes, such as following a healthy diet and doing more physical exercise.

The results of the new study profile a new strategy for the early detection of type 2 diabetes. This detection can be improved if it is limited to examine each patient separately.

Instead of the individual, prevention efforts should focus on the whole family.For example, if a woman has a greater risk of the normal developed type 2 diabetes, there is a strong probability that such risk is shared by her husband.