Individuals who are married are less likely to develop type 2 diabetes compared to people who are single, a new study indicates.
Latest research conducted by the University of Luxembourg and the University of Ottawa has found that married people have better blood sugar control than those living alone, despite whether they are happy or not.
During the study, the team of scientists studied the blood samples of more than 3,300 participants between the age of 50 and 89, all of whom did not have diabetes at the beginning of the investigation.
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Each participant had to fill in a questionnaire on their relationship status and were asked to outline how happy their relationship or marriage is.
Three-quarters of the participants were married or living with a partner, the results have identified.
According to the academics, the participant’s blood glucose levels were not impacted by whether they were happy or unhappy in their marriage or relationship.
The authors said: “Overall, our results suggested that marital/cohabitating relationships were inversely related to HbA1c levels regardless of dimensions of spousal support or strain.
“Likewise, these relationships appeared to have a protective effect against HbA1c levels above the prediabetes threshold.”
Nearly five million people in the UK have diabetes, and roughly 850,000 are unaware that they are living with type 2 diabetes, according to Diabetes UK.
Previous research has also found that being in a happy marriage helps people who have had a heart attack bounce back quicker.
- Gratitude from a partner helps to protect couples’ relationships
- Single men with ‘vital exhaustion’ at high risk of heart attack
Other benefits linked to a happy marriage include a reduced risk of having a stroke and developing depression, prior studies have demonstrated.
In addition, married individuals are more likely to have an increased lifespan and a healthier diet compared to people who are single, earlier research has reported.
The study has been published in the journal BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care.
