Post-traumatic stress disorder and type 2 diabetes are both debilitating conditions, but the connection between the two could be stronger than that. New research suggests that women with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder could be at an increased risk of developing the metabolic disorder.

Share on Pinterest Around 1 in 10 women in the US experience PTSD at some point in their lifetime.

The study, published in JAMA Psychiatry, specifically reports that women experiencing the most symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may have almost two times the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in comparison with women who have not been exposed to trauma.

According to the authors of the study, PTSD is a relatively common condition among women in the US, with a lifetime prevalence of 10.4%. The condition is triggered by either experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event.

Symptoms of PTSD include flashbacks to the event, nightmares and severe anxiety. PTSD is also associated with several risk factors for type 2 diabetes, including inflammation, neuroendocrine dysfunction and poor diet.

However, previous studies suggesting an association between type 2 diabetes and PTSD have been unable to clearly define its cause. No firm conclusions have been made as to whether the association is due to PTSD increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes, vice versa, or whether other factors such as child abuse or depression are involved.

As a result, Angela L. Roberts from the Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, and colleagues set out to fully examine the association between the two conditions. They also assessed the potential roles of body mass index (BMI), smoking, diet, alcohol intake and physical activity as risk factors for type 2 diabetes in women with PTSD.