Did you know that diabetes could affect women’s
reproductive health?
It has been documented that both type of diabetes
(Type 1 and Type 2) are rising in childhood years. The major concern is the
rise of type 2 diabetes in women who are in their reproductive years. The
reproductive journey starts on average in this century, in girls around the age
of 12-13 years, who start menarche (menstrual cycle begins, fertile), up until
menopause (loss of fertility). Type 1
diabetes causes problems as well in childhood years. Girls who have been
diagnosed during their childhood with type 1 diabetes can have affects in
growth, development, and also sexual development. One main aspect of sexual
development and growth entails menarche. There have been some studies that
found that menarche was delayed if the onset of diabetes occurred before
puberty and there is poor glucose control (Paterson, 2012).
Some major health factors associated with type 1
diabetes during reproductive age are menstrual irregularities, such as
amenorrhea, polymenorrhea and oligomenorrhea. With these health factors
occurring during the fertile years of the woman, this result in chronic
abnormal metabolism associated with diabetes hypogonadism and abnormal ovarian
function (Paterson, 2012).
In contrast, there has been a relationship between
type 2 diabetes and obesity, and close association between obesity and reduced
ovarian function. It has been proposed that women with type 2 diabetes and who
are obese are three times at risk to experience infertility, which results in
ovulation failure than women who have normal body mass index (Paterson, 2012). What
would the world be like if we could not have babies, and spread our beauty
through reproduction? Scary thought yes, I know.
In regards to younger women, some health risk
associated in older women with diabetes and who are taking contraceptives can have a potential effect of hormonal contraceptives. These effects
include microvascular and macrovascular complications, such as retinopathy,
neuropathy, nephropathy and cardiovascular disease. Gupta (1997) suggest that
the low-dose combined pill if used with metabolic monitoring can be taken by
women with diabetes (Paterson, 2012).
The most important factor is the contraception is
effective and outweighs the risk of an unplanned pregnancy. Due to the fact
that women who need effective contraception that does not interfere with the
endocrine system nor glucose metabolism. There are reports that women who have
high blood glucose levels are at increased risk of pregnancy outcomes, such as
spontaneous abortion and congenital abnormalities. Therefore, women who have
diabetes need to make accurate and careful choices when concerning pregnancy
and contraceptive choices. Yes, I know sweets are amazing, but too much sugar
can be fatal to the fetus’s health and women’s reproductive health (Paterson,
2012).
Although, I have not been diagnosed with diabetes I
am in my reproductive years, and my health is significantly important. As I
have previously discussed in my last blog post I am taking a nutrition class
this semester, and I have been determined to take care of my health and
nutrition. Diabetes is a common worldwide disease. Approximately 21 million
adults are diagnosed with diabetes, 41 million are diagnosed to have
pre-diabetes, and 6.2 million people are undiagnosed (McQuire and Beerman). In
my future I plan to have eight children and the health of my children and I is
highly important. Diabetes is common in my family tree so I have to take
extreme precautions of this potential health hazard. So to all you young women
out there that are diagnosed or not diagnosed please take extreme caution
during your reproductive years.
What are your thoughts on this topic? Next time I
will be discussing the effects of low dense foods and beverages involving women
with menstrual. Also I would like to wish everyone a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!
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