A recent German study ensures that men with a satisfactory life are less likely to have type 2 diabetes. A relationship that is not supported in the case of women.

Karl-Heinz Ladwig, MD, PHD, Head of the Mental Health Epidemiology Unit of the Institute of Epidemiology of the Helmholtz Zentrum München, and his colleagues evaluated the data of two population surveys (Monica and Kora) carried out from 1989 until1995 of 7,107 adults (51.5%; average age, 47.8 years) with the aim of determining associations between a satisfactory life and type 2 diabetes.

At the beginning of the study, 26.9% of men and 25.3% of women reported a high level of satisfaction with life.

During the follow -up of the study that lasted for 14 years, 568 cases of type 2 diabetes were identified;342 in men.The incidence rate of type 2 diabetes was 57 per 10,000 people every year in men with a full satisfactory life and 73 per 10,000 in men with a satisfaction with low life.In the case of women 37 out of 10,000 women developed type 2 diabetes with a satisfactory life and 48 out of 10,000 with a little satisfactory life.

The risk for type 2 diabetes was 22% lower in men with a satisfactory life compared to men with a little satisfactory life.However, no significant associations were observed between a satisfactory life and type 2 diabetes in women.

"The results suggest that a satisfactory life has a protective role in the development of type 2 diabetes, regardless of common risk factors, and the call for a greater consideration of psychological well -being," the researchers wrote.