Endometriosis linked to higher type 2 diabetes risk in largest study to date

Women with endometriosis had a 46% higher risk of type 2 diabetes in a new study from George Mason University researchers and collaborators. The findings, based on nearly 3 million women over 25 years, suggest the condition may carry broader long-term health risks and could support earlier screening for some patients.

Why it matters: - Endometriosis affects about 1 in 10 women of reproductive age. - The condition is already tied to chronic pelvic pain, infertility and other complications. - If the findings hold up, clinicians may be able to spot women with endometriosis who face higher diabetes risk and could benefit from earlier screening or prevention.

What happened: - Researchers led by George Mason College of Public Health studied the relationship between endometriosis and type 2 diabetes. - The study found women with endometriosis had a 46% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes than women without the condition. - The research was published in Diabetologia. - Maggie Fuzak Nunziato, a George Mason doctoral student in epidemiology, led the study with Anna Pollack, professor of Global and Community Health. - The study examined health records from nearly 3 million women over 25 years.

The details: - The data came from the Utah Population Database and covered 1996 to 2021. - Nearly 100,000 women in the study had a diagnosis of endometriosis. - Risk varied by form of endometriosis, which suggests the condition may have broader long-term health effects than previously recognized. - The strongest association with diabetes appeared among women with extra-pelvic endometriosis, where disease is found outside the pelvis. - The association was strongest among premenopausal women and women without obesity. - The researchers said chronic inflammation linked to endometriosis may affect metabolic health, but more research is needed. - The study included collaborators from the University of Utah, the University of Arizona, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Intermountain Health.

Between the lines: - Earlier studies often treated endometriosis as a single condition and generally found little or no overall link to type 2 diabetes. - This study suggests subtypes of endometriosis may matter more than the diagnosis alone. - The pattern in premenopausal women and women without obesity is notable because those groups are not usually considered the highest-risk groups for type 2 diabetes. - The findings show an association, not proof that endometriosis causes diabetes.

What's next: - Researchers want more studies to clarify the biological mechanism connecting the two conditions. - Further research could test whether earlier metabolic screening improves outcomes for women with endometriosis. - Future work may also determine which patients face the highest risk and should be prioritized for prevention efforts.

The bottom line: - Endometriosis may be a marker for higher long-term metabolic risk, not just a reproductive health condition.