Language is important and can change over time. Words can have different meanings for different people. We recognise that people with diabetes have diverse genders. A person’s gender is their own concept of who they are and how they interact with other people. People identify as men or women, and some people identify as a combination of both, or neither. Someone’s gender identity may or may not align with their assigned sex at birth. When we use the terms women or men, we mean to include all people this information is relevant for, regardless of their gender. Some research studies are limited to the gender binary of men and women when reporting data. When we refer to these studies, we use language that mirrors that used by the studies, to ensure we accurately report their findings. We acknowledge the limitations of these studies in capturing the experiences of transgender, intersex and gender-diverse people. As language about gender continues to evolve in the medical and scientific communities, we will regularly review and adjust language to be as inclusive and accurate as possible. We recognise that more work with transgender, intersex and gender-diverse people with diabetes is needed to understand and support their specific health needs. Last updated: May 2025
