|  | Conditions Treatments | Diabetes

Diabetes & Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Diabetes and PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) go hand in hand.
PCOS patients get Type 2 diabetes, where the pancreas is worn out and cannot produce enough insulin. This is often caused by the disorder of insulin resistance, where the body's tissues are resistant to insulin. Those diagnosed with PCOS have 7 times the chance of ending up diabetic than those who don't have PCOS.

  1. What is PCOS?

    • PCOS, or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, otherwise known as Stein Levanthl, is a genetically based endocrine disorder that causes women to experience reduced fertility, excess body hair, breast pain, acne, depression, mood swings, and a propensity to obesity.

    Hormonal Havoc!

    • In PCOS, the hormones have run amok. High testosterone, and other hormones are out of balance. This too relates to diabetes. The pituitary/adrenal axis that controls the female cycle is affected. This is what leads to the infertility of PCOS. These endocrine interchanges affect diabetes and its results due to carbohydrate sensitivity.

    Their dance together

    • The more severe a person's PCOS and its symptoms, including obesity and other problems, the more severe the diabetes. In fact, some medicines for diabetes, including Metformin, have been known to increase levels of fertility in PCOS patients. Clearly, the two disorders go hand-in-hand.

    PCOS and Diabetes

    • Women with both PCOS and diabetes should do everything in their power to get quality medical care, adhere to a healthy diet, check their blood sugar, seek to lose weight and count carbs.

    Not Diabetic Yet

    • Females with PCOS who are pre-diabetic can still get treatment to improve their blood sugar and back away from diabetes. Doctors sometimes will put women who are not testing bonafide diabetic on Metformin in prediabetic stages.

    Watch yourself For Early Signs of Both Disorders!

    • Some of the early signs of PCOS include Acanthosis Nigricans, where insulin resistance makes itself known sometimes even by puberty in darkened pigment on the back of the neck, elbows and knees, painful periods, or cycles disappearing altogether, and inability to lose weight like other people.

    Other Related Problems

    • Many women who have severe forms of PCOS end up with other endocrine disorders; hypothyroidism is actually quite common. Others contend with additional autoimmune disorders. Syndrome X is also considered to be a risk for women who have both PCOS and diabetes.

Diabetes - Related Articles