Women with diabetes are less likely to receive preventive care and routine health screenings than women without the condition, according to a UCLA-led study published Friday.
The research, based on an analysis of more than 40 studies from multiple countries, found gaps in services including contraceptive counseling, cancer screenings and pre-conception care.
Researchers said the findings, published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, highlight how routine preventive care is often overlooked for women with diabetes, potentially increasing their risk for complications such as issues during pregnancy.
“These findings are important because they identify that women with diabetes are not receiving recommended well-woman care, which is essential to support both managing their diabetes and their overall health,” senior author Lauren Wisk, an associate professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, said in a statement. “Providers need to be aware that they should not forget to provide these essential services for women with diabetes.”
The study examined care patterns among women ages 15 to 49 with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, focusing on four areas: contraceptive services, breast and cervical cancer screenings, pre-conception counseling and screenings for sexually transmitted infections.
Among the findings, about 48% of women with diabetes received contraceptive services compared to 62% of women without the disease. Cervical cancer screening rates ranged from 38% to 79% for women with diabetes, compared with 46% to 86% for those without. Breast cancer screening rates were also lower among women with diabetes.
Researchers found particularly low rates of pre-conception counseling, with just over 1% of women with diabetes receiving such care compared with 46% of women without the disease who were planning to become pregnant.
The study also noted a lack of research on screening for sexually transmitted infections among women with diabetes, calling it a significant gap.
Researchers said better coordination among care providers could help improve access to preventive services, noting that patients who receive care from multiple specialists are more likely to receive recommended screenings.