Welcome back to another refreshing episode of the Citizen Comfort’s Issue of the Week. Last week, in the continuation of our focus on diabetes, we noted that diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces to regulate blood sugar.
Hyperglycemia, or raised blood sugar, according to our report, is a common effect of uncontrolled diabetes that over time leads to serious damage to many of the body’s systems, especially the nerves and blood vessels, while hypoglycemia, low blood sugar, caused most time by overcontrolled of diabetes has become a major source of worry as more and more diabetes patients die from hypoglycemia.
To catch up visit: https://www.citizencomfort.com/2021/11/22/dangers-of-herbal-mixtures-for-the-treatment-of-type-2-diabetes/
Diabetes affects both sexes, but there are diabetes effects that are peculiar to female folks. Let’s take you through some Female Peculiar Diabetes Effects (FPDE).
A report from the Office of Women Health US, said About 15 million women in the United States have diabetes, or about 1 in every 9 adult women
Compared with men with diabetes, medical experts say women with diabetes have:
- A higher risk for heart disease. Heart disease is the most common complication of diabetes.
- Lower survival rates and a poorer quality of life after heart attack
- A higher risk for blindness
- A higher risk for depression. Depression, which affects twice as many women as men, also raises the risk for diabetes in women.
- Problems getting pregnant
- Problems during pregnancy, including possible health problems for you and your baby
- Repeated urinary and vaginal infections.
- Painful sex
- Low Libido
However, medical experts affirm that women living with diabetes can still have healthy pregnancy, provided they take necessary care and plan ahead. If you have diabetes and you want to have a baby, you need to plan ahead, before you get pregnant. Discuss diabetes education program with your doctor to help you better understand your diabetes and how to control it during pregnancy in order to avoid contamination of the pregnancy at the early stage. Uncontrolled diabetes especially in the early conception stage can caused congenital anomalies of the fetus.
Oral and vaginal thrush
Women with diabetes may be more likely to experience a yeast infection, or thrush, in the mouth and vagina. Experts and medical journals say high levels of blood sugar create an ideal breeding ground for the Candida fungus that causes women dreadful conditions such as, sore skin, vaginal discharge, itchy sensations, dyspareunia, or painful sex. High blood sugar levels in the body affect the immune system’s ability to respond to pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
Urinary Tract infections (UTIs) & Sexual Dysfunction
Women with diabetes have a higher risk of a urinary tract infection (UTI). In a 2015 review, 12.9percent of women studied developed a UTI, including painful, burning urination, cloudy urine, blood in the urine within the first year of receiving a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.
Any woman with diabetes who has a UTI should seek treatment as soon as possible to prevent further complications, such as a kidney infection, Sexual dysfunction, as UTI contributes to a lower sex drive, or libido.
Diabetic neuropathy (damage to body’s nerves and fibers) that reduces sensations in the hands, feet and legs, thereby altering sexual experiences in the vagina due to low lubrication of the vagina, difficulty with arousal of the clitoris and having an orgasm, pain and anxiety during sex. All these can affect interest or pleasure in sex.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) & Fertility
Medical journals say there is a higher chance of having PCOS if a woman has diabetes. In PCOS, a hormonal imbalance means the ovaries are unable to release eggs properly. This can affect fertility.
PCOS is not a symptom of diabetes, but a woman with diabetes is more likely to have it than one who does not have diabetes. American Diabetes Association says there is a link between PCOS, and insulin production. Symptoms of PCOS include: irregularity in the menstrual cycle, acne, depression, fertility problems, increased body weight and skin changes. Doctors say women who receive diagnosis of PCOS, should ask their doctors about screening for diabetes.
Gestational diabetes & Pregnancy
Gestational diabetes, according to experts, is a temporary condition that affects some women during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes often resolves after delivery, but a person who experiences it may have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
Other complications include:
-labor difficulties
– need for a cesarean delivery
– risk of tearing in the vagina or between the anus and the vagina
-heavy bleeding after delivery
Experts say gestational diabetes may affect new born baby in the following:
-breathing problems
-low blood sugar
Menopause
Menopause and the years leading up to it, according to medical journal involve a variety of changes that can trigger diabetes or make it worse.
Hormonal changes alter how cells respond to insulin. Blood sugar levels might become less predictable and require more frequent monitoring.
Menopause leads to a drop in estrogen levels as the ovaries stop producing eggs. Women may be more prone to UTIs and vaginal infections at this time if they have diabetes.
Many women experience weight gain during menopause. Women with diabetes may need to change their insulin doses or oral diabetes medications to adapt to the changes.
A study published in 2018 concluded that women with type 2 diabetes who experience hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause may benefit from hormone therapy.
Risk Factors
Risk factors for type 2 diabetes in women and girls include:
- Overweight or obesity: Body mass index (BMI) of 25 or higher for adults. Children and teens weighing above the 85th percentile based on their BMI are at risk
- Older age: 45 or older. After menopause, women are at higher risk for weight gain, especially more weight around the waist, which raises the risk for type 2 diabetes.
- Family health history: Having a mother, father, brother, or sister with diabetes
- Race/ethnicity: Family background of African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Hispanic, Asian-American, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
- Having a baby that weighed 9 pounds or more at birth
- Having diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes)
- High blood pressure: Taking medicine for high blood pressure or having a blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg or higher. (Both numbers are important. If one or both numbers are usually high, you have high blood pressure.)
- High cholesterol: HDL cholesterol of 35 mg/dL or lower and triglycerides of 250 mg/dL or higher
- Lack of physical activity: Women who are active less than three times a week
- Having polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Personal history of heart disease or stroke
If you have any of these risk factors, talk to your doctor about ways to lower your risk for diabetes.
Source: Dare Agbeluyi, Chief Publisher.
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Thank you so much sir for the information above.