A new study from Canada followed 7,000 men and women for 12 years to see how their work and lifestyle affected their chance of developing diabetes.
What they found was pretty surprising.
Women who worked 45 hours or more per week were 62 percent more likely to develop diabetes as compared to women who worked 35 to 40 hours.
Men who worked 45 hours or more per week did not have any rise in their risk for diabetes. In fact, they saw a decrease in their chances of developing diabetes.
Diabetes is related to body weight, diet and other healthy habits. Women who are working longer hours may be not be eating as nutritious of a diet, or exercising as much as they should.
They could also be more stressed out and not sleeping, which are all risk factors for developing diabetes.
Researchers think this difference in developing diabetes between men and women may also be because women who are working longer hours may also still have to be responsible for many "unpaid" work activities, like house cleaning, making meals, and caring for children.
Men who were working the longer hours may be getting paid more, and may have significant others at home who are helping with these household responsibilities.
What can women do who are working long hours at work?
- Try to cut back on hours if possible.
- Divide household and "unpaid" work at home.
- Outsource as much as possible.
- Take more time for self-care activities like eating right and exercise.
- Get more sleep.
- Ask for that pay raise.
