Women living alone have an increased risk to develop diabetes, which is explained mainly by lifestyle factors

The purpose of this study was to assess the role of household conditions for the progression to diabetes in women with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT).

A total of 461 women, aged 50-64 years, with IGT defined by an oral glucose tolerance test, had baseline advice on physical exercise, diet, smoking, and alcohol habits. Physical examination, blood tests, and questionnaires were completed at baseline and after 2.5 years. Household status was categorized into living alone or with a partner, other adults, or children.

Women living alone had a 2.68-fold increased risk (95% CI 1.02-7.05) of developing diabetes after adjustments for biological risk factors. Further stepwise adjustments for education, occupation, subjective mental health, exercise, diet, and alcohol showed remaining significant odds ratios (ORs), decreasing from 3.26 (1.19-8.96) to 3.03 (1.02-8.99). However, when smoking status was added, the OR became nonsignificant, 2.07 (0.62-6.88). More women who lived alone smoked and did not reduce their daily cigarette consumption compared with women in other household conditions. At follow-up, women living alone had reduced their alcohol consumption and were more often abstainers and fewer had healthy dietary habits or had improved their diet. Physical exercise did not differ among the groups. Separate analyses of any other household status did not show any excess risk for development of diabetes.

Women living alone had a higher risk to progress from IGT to diabetes, mostly explained by smoking, alcohol, and dietary habits. Household conditions should be accounted for when assessing future risk for diabetes.