New research suggests that marriage may support the maintenance of normal blood sugar levels, regardless of bond quality.
Research published in journals BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care reveal that marriage is associated with something health benefitsgives new meaning to the phrase “in sickness or in health”.
Between 2004 and 2013, researchers looked at data from 3,335 participants in the Longitudinal Study of Aging in the UK aged 50 to 89 who had never been diagnosed with diabetes.
Individual data were collected biennially, and biomarker data were collected biennially. Age, income, body mass index, amount of physical activity, smoking, depression, and social interaction are just a few of the variables for which researchers have data.
Elevated blood sugar levels associated with diabetes are indicated by high HbA1c levels. The study found that having a spouse was associated with lower her HbA1c test results, which reflected average blood sugar (glucose) levels over the past two to three months.
Over 75% of respondents in the second wave (2004-2005) were married or cohabiting. The participant’s HbA1c level changed dramatically after a marital upheaval such as divorce.
Relationship quality, whether tense or cooperative, did not significantly affect HbA1c.
Researchers note that this is an observational study, so the cause cannot be determined. It is also possible that people with poor health are more likely to get divorced.
Marriage has several other health benefits, according to previous research. For example, a 2016 UK study found that a married person had a 14% lower risk of dying from a heart attack than an unmarried person. According to researchers, the spousal’s post-event physical and emotional support may be responsible for this.
Another study found that happily married middle-aged women had a health advantage over single women and unhappily married women. A woman who is happy in a relationship cardiovascular diseaseHigh blood pressure, high cholesterol, high BMI, etc.
Happily married women also have lower levels of psychosocial cardiovascular risk factors such as anxiety, anger and depression.
