In a busy outpatient clinic, the clock rarely stops. Ten minutes. This is often all a doctor has. Blood sugar levels are checked. Medications are altered. Diet is discussed. And then the patient leaves. However, a recent global study reveals that something crucial is being overlooked, particularly among women.

A major review headed by experts at the University of California, Los Angeles, and published on April 3 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, has identified a concerning pattern. Women with Diabetes Mellitus (DM), a chronic illness in which the body struggles to balance blood sugar, are much less likely to obtain basic preventive care than women without diabetes.

The findings are based on 44 studies conducted in several countries and include women aged 15 to 49. The numbers are startling. Only 48% of women with diabetes got contraceptive services, compared to 62% without the disease. Diabetic women's cervical cancer screening rates ranged from 38% to 79%, often trailing their non-diabetic counterparts. Breast cancer screening revealed a comparable disparity. Most significantly, pre-conception counseling—basic medical advice before planning a pregnancy—was documented at slightly more than 1% in several groups.

"These findings are important because they identify that women with diabetes are not receiving recommended well-woman care, which is essential to support both managing their diabetes and their overall health," said Lauren Wisk, senior author of the study and associate professor at UCLA. “Providers need to be aware that they should not forget to provide these essential services for women with diabetes.”

The study identifies a "priority paradox." In clinical practice, controlling a chronic disease, such as diabetes, is frequently prioritised. Preventive care—screenings, counselling, and early detection—is overlooked. It's not always intended. However, the outcome is serious.

“In cases where the patient has other providers such as specialists and clinical pharmacists actively involved in their chronic disease management, there is opportunity for primary care physicians to attend to preventative care gaps,” said Dr Lisa Kransdorf, co-author of the study.

For India, this is a major worry. With one of the world's highest diabetes burdens, the country's overburdened healthcare system may be exacerbating the problem. The issue is more than just time. It could represent a larger pattern in which women's health needs are quietly deprioritized when confronted with a "more urgent" situation.

The implications are real. Missed cancer screenings can cause a delay in detection. Lack of contraceptive advice can result in high-risk pregnancies. Poor pre-conception care in diabetic women raises the likelihood of problems for both the mother and the child. This is not a trivial oversight. It is a multi-layered public health danger.

The study also discovered a significant gap in data on screening for sexually transmitted infections in women with diabetes. It shows how incomplete the present care framework may be.

There is, nevertheless, a clear road ahead. The review found that coordinated care approaches, in which endocrinologists, general physicians, and specialists collaborate, improve results. Digital health systems may also play a role. Simple cues in electronic health records could encourage doctors to prioritise preventative care alongside chronic illness management.

The difficulty now is to transition from a single-lens approach to a dual one. Diabetes care cannot live in isolation. For millions of women, their status as patients must not overshadow their identity as women.

Because, in the effort to control sugar levels, the system may be overlooking something considerably more dangerous: everything else.