The What, Why & How of Diabetes in Women

Prachi Bhagwat
psbrahme@yahoo.co.in

www.justforhearts.org

In our body, pancreas produces the hormone
insulin.
In Diabetes, the pancreas is affected such that it
either cannot produce enough insulin, cannot use
insulin correctly or both.
When insulin does not function properly, glucose
cannot enter the cells.
Glucose levels in the blood increase and the cells
lack the energy they need to function.


Normal Case – Pancreas produces insulin
which helps Glucose enter the cells and
gets converted into energy.

Type 1 Diabetes - body’s defence system
attacks the insulin-producing cells.

Type 2 Diabetes – Characterized by insulin
resistance and relative insulin deficiency.


Women with diabetes are more likely to have a
heart attack and have it at a younger age.
Some women get diabetes when they are
pregnant.
Women who have diabetes are more likely to have
a miscarriage or a baby with birth defects.
For poor women, it is very hard to manage
Diabetes.
Most people with diabetes die from heart attack
or stroke.

The prime cause of diabetes in women is
obesity. Some warning signs are:
 Excessive thirst
 Frequent urination
 Tiredness
 Recurrent yeast infection
 Weight loss
 Dry skin


 Obesity
Sedentary Lifestyle
Unhealthy Eating Habits
Family History and Genetics
Increased Age
High Blood Pressure and High Cholesterol
History of Gestational Diabetes – Affects 4%
pregnant Women.


Diabetes can develop during pregnancy in women
who haven’t previously had the condition. This is
called gestational diabetes.
It can occur at any stage of pregnancy; more
commonly in 2nd Half.
 It occurs when your body can’t produce enough
extra insulin to meet the demands of pregnancy.
It goes away after a woman gives birth to a child.


Common Symptoms are frequent URINATION,
increased thirst, and increased hunger.
However these are common during pregnancy
hence are difficult to distinguish from Diabetes.
Usually urine tests reveal high blood glucose
levels.
Elevated blood glucose is found after 3-4
drawings of blood during pregnancy confirms
Gestational Diabetes.


Macrosomia (very large baby) occurs when the
mother's blood sugar level is high throughout
pregnancy.
 Preeclampsia is high blood pressure and protein
in the urine during pregnancy. It may require the
baby to be delivered early. Severe preeclampsia
can lead to seizures or kidney or liver problems.
 Hydramnios occurs when there is too
much amniotic fluid in the sac that surrounds the
baby.

Urinary tract infections can occur without
symptoms. If the infection is not treated, it may
spread from the bladder to the kidneys.
 Respiratory distress syndrome can make it harder
for the baby to breathe after birth.
 Stillbirth - Delivery of a baby that has died
before birth occurs more often in babies of women
whose diabetes was not well controlled before and
during pregnancy.


If you are a women already having Diabetes,
you must learn following to prevent future
problems.
 Plan the pregnancy.
 See your doctor.
 Eat healthy foods from a meal plan made
for you as a person with diabetes.


 Exercise regularly.
 Monitor blood sugar often.
 Take prescribed medications on time.
 Control and treat low blood sugar quickly.
 Follow-up with the doctor regularly.


 It can be managed through good nutritional
EATING HABITS and daily exercise.
If lifestyle measures do not maintain stable blood
glucose levels, women may need insulin injections
for remainder of pregnancy.
Some women develop high risk of conventional
Diabetes once pregnancy is over.


 Gestational diabetes usually goes away after
pregnancy.
But once you've had gestational diabetes, your
chances are 2 in 3 that it will return in future
pregnancies. Some women develop high risk of
conventional Diabetes once pregnancy is over.
Many women who have gestational diabetes go on
to develop type 2 diabetes years later.


Certain Preventive measures prevent
Diabetes after Gestational Diabetes:
 Losing weight .
 Making healthy food choices.
 Exercising.
 Proper and Balanced diet.


Problems in Newborn:
 Low glucose levels
 Low blood calcium and magnesium levels
 An excess of red blood cells
 Neonatal jaundice (yellow discoloration of
the skin)
 Breathing problems.
All the above problems are not serious and are easily
treated. Women with Diabetes can also breastfeed
their babies.

Menopause is caused by the natural loss of ovarian
function, which in turn leads to a decrease in
estrogens production and the cessation of monthly
menstruation.

Menopause typically (but not always) occurs in
women in midlife, during their late 40s or early 50s,
and signals the end of the fertile phase of a
woman's life.

Women who smoke cigarettes experience
menopause significantly earlier than non-smokers.


There's plenty you can do to better manage
diabetes and menopause.

Make healthy lifestyle choices.
Measure your blood sugar frequently.
Ask your doctor about adjusting your diabetes
medications.
Ask your doctor about cholesterol-lowering
medication.
 Seek help for menopausal symptoms.


Website: www.justforhearts.org
Email: ravindra@justforhearts.org ,
drravindrakulkarni@gmail.com
Direct: +91 20 27610671 , +91 20 67306537
Mobile: +91 94223 00251
Blog: justforhearts.wordpress.com
Twitter: twitter.com/justforhearts
Facebook: facebook.com/justforhearts
Linked In: linkedin.com/pub/dr-ravindralkulkarni/15/258/4ab


The What, Why & How of Diabetes in Women

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

More from Just for Hearts

More from Just for Hearts (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

The What, Why & How of Diabetes in Women