Women 
And Diabetes

It is very bad on the part of diabetes that it creates more problems for women than for men.  For example:   

Diabetes carries an increased risk of Cardiovascular disease which is particularly pronounced in women

Additional/ Increased Diabetic Risks
In Women  

	Women with diabetes have an increased risk of vaginal infections and complications during pregnancy.
	Diabetes carries an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, which is particularly pronounced in women.
	The risk of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), also called diabetic coma, is 50% higher among women than men. DKA is a condition brought on by poorly controlled diabetes and marked by high levels of blood glucose and ketones (Ketones are by-products of fat metabolism in blood).  Although DKA is accompanied by high blood glucose levels, it is not caused by high blood sugar.  It is caused by lack of insulin.
	Women with diabetes are 7.6 more vulnerable to Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD) than non-diabetic women
	Women with diabetes are up to 5 times more vulnerable to toxemia– a disorder of unknown cause usually marked by hypertension, protein in the urine, edema, headache, and visual disturbances together with hydramnios– excessive discharge of amniotic fluid.

Pregnancy
And Diabetes

Pregnancy demands more insulin in the body than what is normally required because of the increased production of certain hormones that may lead to insulin resistance.  For women with diabetes, excellent blood glucose control before conception and then throughout pregnancy is vital to health of the baby and the mother. 

Remember that:

Ø      The rate of major congenital malformation in babies born to women with pre-existing diabetes varies from 0 to 5 % among women who receive preconception care against 10  percent among women who do not receive any preconception care.

Ø      Between 3-5 % of pregnancies among women with diabetes result in the death of newborn within 28 days. In the case of women who do not suffer from diabetes, it is only 1.5 percent.

Ø      The incidence of  Macrosomia–the large birth weight of the baby–is two to three time more in diabetic pregnancies that calls for a cesarean operation.

Ø      About 40 % of women with gestational diabetes who are obese before pregnancy develop type 2 diabetes within 4 years.

For managing pregnancy,
diabetic women must consult their
health care provider at the regular interval
and immediately whenever they feel less than normal.

Ladies, birth control pills can adversely affect your blood glucose level and diabetes control. Take extra care if you are on the pills. You must also know that the Inrauterine Device (IUD) may lead to infection. Avoid its use.