New research shows a major gap in preventive care for women with diabetes, raising concerns for nurses and healthcare teams.
Women with diabetes are significantly less likely to receive preventive services, including cancer screenings and pre-conception counseling, according to a UCLA-led analysis of 44 studies. The gap increases the risk of preventable complications and highlights the need for stronger care coordination.
A Widespread Gap in Routine Care
The analysis focused on women ages 15 to 49 with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, examining contraceptive care, cancer screenings, pre-conception counseling, and sexually transmitted infection screening.
Across nearly every category, women with diabetes received fewer services.
Only 48 percent received contraceptive services compared to 62 percent of women without diabetes. Cervical cancer screening rates ranged from 38 percent to 79 percent, compared to 46 percent to 86 percent among women without the condition.
Breast cancer screening rates ranged from 38 percent to 69 percent for women with diabetes, compared to 54 percent to 82 percent for those without.
Pre-conception counseling showed the largest gap, with rates just over 1 percent among women with diabetes, compared to 46 percent among women planning pregnancy.
Researchers also identified a complete absence of studies examining screening for sexually transmitted infections in this population, pointing to a significant gap in research.
Why Preventive Care Is Being Missed
The findings suggest that preventive care is often overshadowed by the demands of chronic disease management.
“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, associate professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. “Providers need to be aware that they should not forget to provide these essential services for women with diabetes.”
In time-limited visits, clinical focus often centers on glycemic control and medication management, leaving less room for routine screenings and counseling.
Care Coordination May Be the Fix
The study points to coordinated, team-based care as a key solution.
Researchers found that co-management models involving endocrinology, primary care, and other specialists were associated with higher rates of preventive service delivery, aligning with recommendations from the American Diabetes Association.
“In cases where the patient has other providers such as specialists and clinical pharmacists actively involved in their chronic disease management, there is an opportunity for primary care physicians to attend to preventative care gaps,” said Dr. Lisa Kransdorf, associate clinical professor of medicine at UCLA and study co-author.
What Nurses Should Watch For
For nurses, the findings highlight a clear opportunity to close care gaps.
From primary care to specialty settings, nurses are often the first to identify missed screenings, initiate conversations about reproductive health, and reinforce preventive care during routine visits.
What Comes Next
Researchers note limitations, including small sample sizes and reliance on patient recall in many of the studies reviewed.
Still, the findings point to a clear need for system-level improvements.
“Future research should look into how health systems should use electronic health records to increase preventive health services among women with diabetes, improve care-coordination and communication between healthcare providers, and evaluate co-management models’ quality of care,” Wisk said.
The Bottom Line
Nurses and healthcare teams must act now—prioritize preventive care equally with chronic disease management to protect women’s health.
Closing this gap requires strong coordination, clinical vigilance, and consistent action to ensure women with diabetes receive all necessary care.
