Women with Diabetes experience numerous issues from complications of the disease as well as problems resulting from increased risks of being female. Hormones, such as estrogen can interfere with the absorption of insulin in a woman’s body. When the insulin cannot be absorbed, it is unable to transfer sugar from digested food out of the bloodstream and into muscles and tissues where it can be utilized for energy. The result is high levels of blood glucose, which can cause a myriad of problems, especially if it goes undetected for a long period, which is normally the case with Type 2 Diabetes, or insulin resistance.
Women may notice irregularities in their menstrual cycle, recurring yeast infections, and chronic urinary tract infections. These conditions are due to the surge of estrogen, lack of insulin, and excess sugar. As a woman’s vagina is a warm moist area, yeast is certain to grow there causing various infections. In addition, nerve damage may also present making leaving women with sexual dysfunctions, such as lack of desire, inability to climax, and insufficient lubrication, which can make sex painful and difficult.
Women with Diabetes also endure other conditions that are gender exclusive, such as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). This disorder causes a hormonal imbalance decreasing estrogen and increasing testosterone, which results in facial hair growth, irregular periods,acne, ovarian cysts, and infertility.
Women with Diabetes
Women with Diabetes certainly have more than their fair share of Diabetes related complications. One form of Diabetes that men and children are not able to contract is a form of insulin resistance called Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. Pregnant women with Diabetes become insulin resistant in their second or third trimester due to hormones produced in pregnancy. This serious condition affects up to 5% of all pregnant women, and while it does resolve after delivery, the mother’s risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes is heightened. In addition, she is now at greater risk for toxemia and pre-term labor. The unborn fetus also will be a victim of these circumstances. He will most likely have birth defects, be a larger than average baby, require IV fluids and oxygen upon birth, and could possibly die. Preventing this condition relies solely on the mother by stabilizing her blood glucose levels, eating right, exercising, and keeping excess weight off.
Women with Diabetes
Women with Diabetes encounter the typical risks for Diabetes that affects men and children in addition to the conditions mentioned above. They are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, stroke, kidney disease and failure, eye disease, liver failure, and nerve damage. Heart disease is the most daunting of all of these conditions as the number of women with Diabetes and heart disease has increased 23% in the last thirty years. In addition, women with Diabetes suffer more from depression, eating disorders, and sexual issues than any other category of people, including non-Diabetics and men with Diabetes.
