Diabetes hospitalization up in young women

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Oct. 12 (UPI) -- Diabetes hospitalizations are up by 66 percent since 1993 for all ages and sexes but are higher in young women, U.S. researchers say.

Study author Dr. Joyce Lee of the University of Michigan Health System says the number of diabetes hospitalizations among younger adults -- ages 30-39 -- more than doubled from 1993 to 2006 and young women were 1.3 times more likely to be hospitalized than young men.

The study, published in Journal of Women's Health, suggests the pattern of hospitalizations echoes the dramatic increase during the last three decades in the U.S. rates of obesity for young adults -- especially women.

The researchers note the possibility women with diabetes may be sicker than their male counterparts. This could be related to the medical care they receive -- for example younger women with diabetes have been shown to be less likely to receive preventive care for their diabetes.

"Our findings suggest that further attention must be paid to the young adult population," Lee says in a statement. "We need more diabetes prevention interventions targeting the young adult population, and women in particular."

Lee and colleagues evaluated the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database -- the largest database of hospital discharges.