Question

Women & Diabetes - Your Right To A Healthy Future!

Dr.Dharmendra Panchal · Accepted Answer

The disease itself may not discriminate on the gender basis, but when it comes to healthcare for patients with diabetes, women find themselves at a disadvantage as compared to men. Studies indicate that diabetes, a disease that affects over 371 million people worldwide takes a greater toll on women than men. Though, hormones in women do account for some of the unique challenges they have to face, but there are other societal factors as well that bring in the differences.

This World Diabetes Day, is about promoting the significance of affordable care for diabetes and equitable access for all women at risk or living with diabetes to essential medicines, technological information and self-management education they require and achieve optimal outcome to strengthen their adequacy to prevent type-2 diabetes. Because, It's your right to a healthy and disease free future!

So, how will you know if you are suffering from this deadly disease Diabetes?

Symptoms

Women with diabetes experience many of the same symptoms as that of men. However, there are some that are specific to women.

Symptoms experienced by both women and men:

Frequent urination
Increased thirst and hunger
Unnecessary weight loss or gain
Blurred vision
Fatigue
Wounds that heal slowly
Skin infections
Nausea
Breath that has a sweet or fruity odor
Irritability
Reduced feeling in hands or feet
Symptoms unique to women:

Vaginal yeast infections
Urinary infections
Vaginal thrush
Polycystic ovary syndrome
Female sexual dysfunction
Diabetes is the ninth leading cause of death in women globally, causing 2.1 million deaths each year. Two out of every five women suffering from diabetes are of reproductive age. Women with diabetes have more difficulty conceiving and may have poor pregnancy outcomes.

Diabetes and Pregnancy

The affect of Diabetes, in a pregnancy will not be great, if controlled properly. Women with diabetes should talk to their gynaecologist while planning to conceive so that they can control their blood sugar levels even before getting pregnant. Your gynaecologist will help you control and monitor your diabetes and blood sugar levels during pregnancy.

And, if you fail to get your blood sugar levels under control during pregnancy, you may experience severe risks:

Miscarriage
Premature delivery
Difficult delivery or cesarean section (C-section)
Birth defects
Having a large baby
Preeclampsia (high blood pressure usually with protein in the urine)
Low blood glucose in a newborn
Breathing problems in the newborn
Yellowing skin and eyes (jaundice) in a newborn
Worsening diabetic eye problems and kidney problems for the mother
Urinary or bladder infections
What is Gestational Diabetes?

When diabetes occurs in women during pregnancy, it is called gestational diabetes. It is usually diagnosed at the first week of pregnancy. Like in type 1 and type 2 diabetes, blood sugar levels become too high. When a woman is pregnant, more glucose is required to nourish the baby developing inside her womb. During this time, the body needs more insulin, which is produced by the pancreas. In some women, the body does not produce enough insulin to meet this need, and blood sugar levels rise, resulting in gestational diabetes.

Fortunately, for most women, gestational diabetes will go away once the baby is delivered. However, women who have had gestational diabetes are at increased risk for developing type-2 diabetes. Further, people suffering from PTSD are in high risk group, and should consult their doctor immediately and those who are presently, affected with Diabetes should consult for pre-conception consultation.

Risk Factors for Diabetes in Women

You are at risk for type-2 diabetes if you:

are overweight or obese
are older than 45
have a family history of diabetes (parent or sibling)
have had gestational diabetes
have had a baby with a birth weight of more than 9 pounds
have high blood pressure
have high cholesterol
have other health conditions that are linked to problems using insulin, such as PCOS
Diabetes Treatment Options

Medications

There are various medications you can take to control the symptoms of diabetes. These include:

Insulin therapy
Sulfonylureas like chlorpropamide, which increase pancreatic insulin secretion
Metformin (Glucophage), which reduces blood sugar
Lifestyle changes

A change in your diet and lifestyle can also help women control their diabetes

Exercise and maintain a healthy weight
Monitor your blood sugar
Eat a diet focused on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
Strictly avoid smoking cigarettes
Alternative remedies

Women with diabetes can try other alternative remedies to treat the symptoms, such as

Eat more broccoli, buckwheat, sage, peas, and fenugreek seeds
Take supplements like chromium or magnesium
Take plant supplements
But, always remember to consult with your doctor before trying any new treatment. Even if they are natural, they can intrude with your on-going treatment or medications. So, this World Diabetes Day, take a pledge towards healthy living... because your health is important to someone else!

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