Statistically, men are more likely than women to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, with about 18 million more men living with the condition worldwide. While many risk factors for type 2 diabetes are universal, they tend to show up later in women. In fact, a gestational diabetes diagnosis is the single biggest risk factor for type 2 diabetes in women, with some studies suggesting women who experience gestational diabetes are up to eight times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life. Other hormonal shifts over a woman’s lifetime can influence type 2 diabetes risk and progression. At younger ages, men are more likely than women to store visceral fat.