Many women with ADHD struggle not only with attention and executive function, but also with physical health challenges like weight gain, energy crashes, and emotional burnout. Emerging research shows a clear connection between ADHD and an increased risk for type 2 diabetes. This short article outlines why ADHD and diabetes are linked, and what you can do about it.
What Scientific Studies Have Unveiled About ADHD and Diabetes
Studies of people with ADHD have shown that they are at higher risk for type 2 diabetes than people without ADHD. Here are a few of the studies that have brought the link to light.
A 2018 longitudinal study using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database found that adolescents (aged 10–17) with ADHD had a hazard ratio (HR) of 2.8 (95% CI: 2.0–4.1) for developing T2D compared to age- and sex-matched controls. For young adults (aged 18–29), the HR was even higher, 3.3 (95% CI: 1.4–7.6) after adjusting for demographic characteristics, ADHD medications, atypical antipsychotics, and comorbidities like hypertension, dyslipidemia, and obesity. So, adolescents and young adults were found to be about 3 times more likely to develop T2D in this population.
A 2020 study from the National Health Interview Survey reported that adults with ADHD had a 50% higher likelihood of developing diabetes (OR: 1.5; 95% CI: 1.2–2.0) after adjusting for factors like age, sex, ethnicity, education, family income, smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, and BMI. The risk was not reported to be as high in this survey results, but the link was still clearly present.
A 2022 meta-analysis of 5 population studies that examined the link between ADHD and T2D found that the prevalence of T2D among individuals with ADHD was significantly higher than in those without ADHD, with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.0 (95% CI: 1.4–3.1). So, if you have ADHD you are about twice as likely to develop T2D as people without ADHD.
So, the link between ADHD and T2D has been clearly established. Usually the research looks at people with ADHD and checks for T2D, not vice versa, but there is some evidence that the risk goes both ways.
Why ADHD Increases Diabetes Risk
Impulse Eating and Cravings
Your ADHD brains seek dopamine. Sugar and fast food offer you a quick ‘hit,’ leading to cycles of high-calorie snacking and blood sugar spikes. Weight gain comes easily.
Executive Dysfunction
Planning and following through with regular meals or meal prep can feel overwhelming to you, so you tend to skip meals, opt out for fast food, or give in to binge-eating.
Sleep Disruption
ADHD often involves disruptions in your sleep patterns and bad sleep, which are linked to higher insulin resistance and worse control of blood sugar levels.
Chronic Stress
Emotional dysregulation, anxiety, and pressure to try to mask your ADHD traits raise your cortisol levels, which over time leads to poor metabolic health. Emotional eating and using food to deal with stress sends you down the wrong pathway of metabolic health.
Low Physical Activity
Focus and motivation challenges make it hard to have consistent exercise routines. You start lots of them, but move on.
What This Means for You
Women with ADHD may be silently developing metabolic issues without realizing it. Blood sugar crashes, fatigue, weight gain, and mental fog are not just “ADHD problems.” They could be signs of insulin resistance or early-stage type 2 diabetes.
Support That Works for Both ADHD and Diabetes
The good news: healing is possible. A type 2 diabetes coach who understands ADHD can help you design low-overwhelm strategies. A good health coach is a behavior change expert, and believes that you are the expert of your life experience. We help you focus on behaviors that build health, which then lead to the outcomes you desire.
Together we focus on:
- Plans that are not overwhelming, because you help design them to fit you, one step at a time.
- Exercise routines that fit your schedule.
- Behavior changes that you believe are most important, because you said so.
- Non-judgmental acccountability to assist you in accomplishing your goals.
By focusing on what you can change (behavior) you get the outcomes you desire, but can’t directly control.
Here are some of the outcomes you will likely get:
- Blood sugar stability without rigid diets
- Ability to focus more clearly and pay attention as needed
- Gentle, consistent, higher energy
- Better physical fitness and stamina
- Freedom from guilt about not getting enough done
Often you know what to do, but just need gentle support and encouragement to carry through on your plans. When physical health improves, mental clarity, emotional regulation, and executive function often improve, too. Helping women heal their metabolism can empower them to show up more fully in their purpose, creativity, and relationships.
