One Size Does Not Fit All: The Need for Sex-Specific Precision Medicine in Diabetes Technology
Incorporating sex-specific factors in diabetes research and treatment is essential for advancing precision medicine. There are critical gaps in understanding and applying sex-related differences. Female-specific diabetes pathophysiology manifests in three major areas: life cycle phases (including puberty, pregnancy, and menopause), lifestyle factors (such as responses to nutrition and physical activity), and insulin pharmacology. These elements significantly affect insulin sensitivity and glycemic control in women, yet are frequently underrepresented or ignored in both research and clinical practice. Greater research and clinical focus across these domains is needed to better understand and address sex-based differences in diabetes. Identifying and filling evidence gaps will support more systematic and effective care.
Authors
- Jane E. Yardley (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8761-7019)
- Carol J. Levy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3492-2578)
- Temiloluwa Prioleau (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6750-202X)
- Dawn W. Adams (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1219-5445)
- Melinda Friedman
- Susanne Tan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2692-8643)
- Thomas Züger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6190-7405)
- Lia Bally (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1993-7672)
- Tim Gunn
- Othmar Moser (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1661-0685)
- Charlotte K. Boughton (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3272-9544)
- Julia Katharina Mader (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7854-4233)
- Chiara Fabris (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7575-4622)
- Cameron Keighron
- Martina Rothenbühler (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8009-4104)
- David Burren
- Stefanie Hossmann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1600-5925)
- Hanne Ballhausen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4530-7669)
- Elke Fröhlich‐Reiterer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1798-3237)
- Claudia Eberle (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7878-2020)
- Lutz Heinemann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2493-1304)
- Olga Gusyatiner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5909-6620)
- G Faber-Heinemann
- Valentina V. Huwiler (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0357-6887)
- Trevor Hastings
- Aisling Ann O’Kane (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8219-8126)
- Tanja Thybo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-5448-1208)
- Maria L. Balmer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0356-6352)
- Anne Bonhoure (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8362-596X)
- David Charles Klonoff (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6394-6862)
- Nick S. Oliver (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3525-3633)
- Deniz Cengiz
- Vincent Braunack-Mayer
- Saira Khan-Gallo
Institutions
- Dartmouth College (US)
- University of Bern (CH)
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute (AU)
- Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway (IE)
- Bielefeld University (DE)
- Fulda University of Applied Sciences (DE)
- Medical University of Graz (AT)
- University of Cambridge (GB)
- Heart and Diabetes Center North Rhine-Westphalia (DE)
- University Hospital of Bern (CH)
- University of Bristol (GB)
- Ypsomed (Switzerland) (CH)
- Wellcome/MRC Institute of Metabolic Science (GB)
- Mills Peninsula Health Services (US)
- Southern Health and Social Care Trust (GB)
- Kantonsschule Olten (CH)
- Danish Diabetes Association (DK)
- Montreal Clinical Research Institute (CA)
- Tidepool (US)
- Imperial College London (GB)
- University of Virginia (US)
- University of Bayreuth (DE)
- Université de Montréal (CA)
- Medical Research Council (GB)
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology
- Published
- 2025-05-25
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1177/19322968251340673
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- Sex and Gender in Healthcare
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 3.76