Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42316786›Full record

ReviewDiabetic medicine : a journal of the British Diabetic Association2026

Women living with diabetes: Overlooked and under-recognised, the psychosocial impact.

Rita Forde, Angus Forbes, Dawn Adams, Aycan Celik Esmer, Emma Davidsen, Maartje de Wit, Michelle Hadjiconstantinou, Rahab Hashim, Ana Munda, Giesje Nefs and 3 more

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Diabetic medicine : a journal of the British Diabetic Association, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Rita FordeSchool of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
Angus ForbesFlorence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care, King's College London, London, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3331-755X
Dawn AdamsSouthern Health & Social Care Trust, Craigavon, UK.
Aycan Celik EsmerInternal Medicine Nursing Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Uşak University, Uşak, Türkiye.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7184-4855
Emma DavidsenDepartment of Prevention, Health Promotion and Community Care, Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark.
Maartje de WitAmsterdam UMC, Medical Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6029-5101
Michelle HadjiconstantinouDivision of Global, Lifestyle and Metabolic Health, Diabetes Research Centre, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
Rahab HashimFlorence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care, King's College London, London, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0004-4690-1776
Ana MundaClinical Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Giesje NefsDepartment of Medical Psychology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8772-740X
Hermelinda C PedrosaEndocrinology Unit of the Regional Hospital of Taguatinga, Research Center of Foundation for Education and Research in Health Sciences, Secretariat of Health of the Federal District, Brasilia, Brazil.
Anita SabidiDiabetes Initiative Indonesia (DIID), Jakarta, Indonesia.
Judith ParsonsFlorence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care, King's College London, London, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9656-5940

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimDiabetes intersects with women's reproductive and sexual health across the life course; however, the psychosocial implications of key reproductive transitions remain under-recognised in research and clinical practice. This review synthesised evidence on the psychosocial impacts of diabetes during menstruation, pregnancy, the menopausal transition and sexual functioning, with the aim of identifying critical gaps in research and care.

methodsA narrative review was conducted, informed by a semi-structured literature search.

findingsWomen living with diabetes experience substantial psychosocial burdens that extend beyond glycaemic management across all reproductive stages. During menstruation, hormonal fluctuations contribute to glycaemic variability, increased self-management demands and emotional distress, often without adequate clinical guidance. Pregnancy in women with type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes is associated with heightened anxiety, diabetes distress, stigma and guilt, yet psychosocial needs remain largely unaddressed in routine care. The menopausal transition represents a further period of vulnerability, characterised by worsening glycaemic variability, increased psychological morbidity and elevated cardiovascular risk. Sexual dysfunction is highly prevalent across the lifespan in women with diabetes and is strongly associated with depression, anxiety and body image concerns.

conclusionOverall, the evidence highlights a persistent disconnect between the psychosocial needs of women and the predominantly biomedical focus of current diabetes care models. Addressing this gap requires a person-centred approach that integrates psychosocial and women-specific health considerations into diabetes research, education and clinical practice. Strengthening this evidence base is essential to improving long-term health outcomes for women living with diabetes.

Indexed as

Diabetes MellitusDiabetes Mellitus, Type 1Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2AnxietyDepressionFemaleHumansMenopausePregnancyPregnancy in DiabeticsSexual Dysfunction, PhysiologicalSexual Dysfunctions, PsychologicalWomen's Healthgestational diabetesmenopausemenstrual cyclepregnancysexual dysfunctionsexual functionwomen's health

Identifiers

PMID42316786
PMCPMC13614001

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.