Biomedical science and women’s health: The case of sex and gender in type 1 diabetes and physical activity

Jane Yardley

This conference will be held in English and is part of the Montréal Health Ethics Lecture Series 2025

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Summary of the presentation:
Biomedical science has long shied away from studying the impact of male and female physiology on basic disease mechanisms and the effects of various treatments. Such is the case of type 1 diabetes, a condition that affects both males and females roughly equally. In particular, regular physical activity is essential to health and longevity for people living with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Unfortunately, for people living with T1D, fear of hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) and fear of losing agency over diabetes management are major obstacles to being active. Existing physical activity guidelines suggestion insulin adjustments and carbohydrate intake strategies to minimize glycemic variations. Unfortunately, the data used to inform this advice originates from studies dominated by young, fit, male participants. They often fail to account for sex-related differences in metabolism, potential fluctuations or changes in insulin sensitivity due to the menstrual cycle or menopause, or gender-related goals and preferences around physical activity. As such, they may increase glycemic variability, and act as an additional barrier to activity. This presentation outlines recent and ongoing efforts to improve the precision of these guidelines for women by providing data on a greater range of participants. It will thus speak to, using the example of type 1 diabetes and physical activity, some of the broader issues affecting the study of sex and gender in biomedical research.

Biography:
Jane Yardley, PhD, is the Physical Activity and Diabetes Research Unit Director at IRCM. Her early work focused on blood glucose responses to resistance exercise, and how fasting affects these responses in individuals with type 1 diabetes. Her recent work focuses on sex and gender-related differences in exercise behaviours and blood glucose responses to exercise in this population, with emphasis on menses and menopause. Her work is cited by Diabetes Canada, Diabetes UK, and the American Diabetes Association exercise guidelines. She is a co-author of the 2016 American Diabetes Association Consensus Statement on Exercise and Physical Activity in diabetes. 

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2025 SERIES THEME

Ethnical issues related to women's health and well-being