8 Diabetes Dangers For Women!

Nowadays, diabetes has become a common condition for several women.

Having blood glucose levels more than the usual range specify that you are with diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes is of three types, such as type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes.

Diabetes looses the ability of your immune system to convert the food into energy.

Type 2 diabetes can occur at any age and even in the childhood also.

Here are the effects of diabetes on your health:

1. Diabetes and menstrual cycle

During your menstrual cycle, you body undergoes various hormonal changes. These hormonal changes can greatly affect your blood sugar levels. When there are high estrogen levels, your body is resistant to its own insulin or injected insulin.

Usually women have high blood sugar 3-5 days before their menstrual cycle i.e. a week prior to ovulation. Once your period starts, your blood glucose levels will naturally fall down. This fluctuation is due to the increase in estrogen and progesterone levels, which greatly interfere with insulin activity.

Premenstrual symptoms become worse with poor blood sugar control. Young women with cycles of more than 40 days or cycles that were too irregular to estimate were found to be twice as likely to develop diabetes as those with normal cycles.

2. Diabetes and sex life

A new study conducted recently said that diabetes can cause women sexual dysfunction. All women have some kind of sexual health problems. Sexual problems occur in same rate in women with type 1 diabetes as women without diabetes. But the problems are severe in women with type 2 diabetes. Here are some of the sexual health problems:

• Vaginal dryness: Vaginal lubrication decreases with low hormone levels, damage to the blood vessels, or nerve damage. Age, pregnancy, medications and stress can also reduce vaginal lubrication.


• Yeast infection: High glucose levels in your blood increases the fungus called as yeast around your vaginal area. If the condition is not treated, then it can lead to severe urinary tract infection.
  

3. Diabetes and birth control

You will find various types of birth control methods. The risk of blood clotting is higher for women with type 2 diabetes who use oral contraceptives.

The risk of blood clots can also increases if you don’t exercise, are overweight, smoke, have high blood pressure or high levels of cholesterol.

So, women with any of these risk factors should choose low dose oral contraceptives.

4. Diabetes and menopause

Women with type 1 diabetes enter into menopause stage earlier than women without. But, women with type 2 enter into menopause stage later than normal women. Women with diabetes can experience major hormonal changes.

These hormonal fluctuations can cause women to suffer from mood changes, menstrual periods that are more or less frequent, greater PMS symptoms, lighter or heavier blood flow during menstrual cycle.

Women with type 1 diabetes can experience hypoglycemia as the first sign that indicate that hormonal levels are decreasing and it is essential for insulin adjustment. Women with type 2 diabetes experience major weight gain and greater increase in blood glucose levels.

5. Diabetes and eyesight

Nowadays, diabetes is the leading cause of blindness. About 10% of women with diabetes are blind. Recent research showed that more Americans than ever are facing the threat of blindness.

6. Diabetes and other health conditions

Also, there are various ways in which diabetes affects a woman’s life. Diabetes can cause a woman to enter into coma, nerve damage, hypertension, stroke, and urinary tract infection.

7. Diabetes and reproductive problems

Diabetes can cause various reproductive abnormalities in women. Among which the most serious effects of diabetes is on fertility. Diabetes can lead to miscarriage and polycystic ovary syndrome.

5% of all pregnancies in United States experience gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes can lead to high blood pressure, bladder infection, birth defects, premature delivery, spontaneous abortion, kidney and urinary tract infection.

8. Diabetes and heart disease

Heart disease is the most common threat of diabetes in both women and men. It is estimated that 45% of women with diabetes have heart disease. Women with heart disease have poorer prognosis than men.

After suffering from a heart attack, women are at higher risk of dying or having another heart attack.