The What, Why & How of Diabetes in Women

Prachi Bhagwat

[email protected]

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.



Type 1 Diabetes - body’s defence system

attacks the insulin-producing cells.

Type 2 Diabetes – Characterized by insulin

resistance and relative insulin deficiency.

Normal Case – Pancreas produces insulin

which helps Glucose enter the cells and

gets converted into energy.


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.www.justforhearts.org

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.www.justforhearts.org

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.




[email protected] ,

[email protected]

+91 20 27610671 , +91 20 67306537

+91 94223 00251

justforhearts.wordpress.com

twitter.com/justforhearts

facebook.com/justforhearts

linkedin.com/pub/dr-ravindralkulkarni/15/258/4ab

Website:

Email:

Direct:

Mobile:

Blog:

Twitter:

Facebook:

Linked In:

http://www.justforhearts.org/


Date post:	18-May-2015
Category:	Health & Medicine
Upload:	just-for-hearts
View:	801 times
Download:	2 times

The What, Why & How of Diabetes in Women

Health & Medicine