Diabetes and Women's Health
Diabetes management includes issues and concerns specific to women.
Diabetes management concerns for women include sexual dysfunction as well as issues surrounding birth control, pregnancy, and menopause.
Sexual dysfunction
Most women would agree that sex is an important part of living a healthy and fulfilled life. Diabetes can rob you of that pleasure if it is not in good control. When blood glucose levels are in poor control, a woman’s sex life can be affected. Depression or fatigue may contribute to a loss of interest in sex. Vaginal dryness can cause painful intercourse. Discomfort about discussing your physical condition with your partner can cause further problems with the relationship.
Don’t assume that loss of interest in sex is just a normal part of getting older, nor assume that it happens in all women who have diabetes. If you find you have lost interest in sex and wish to regain it, talk with your health care provider about medications and counseling that can help.
Pregnancy
For women with diabetes considering pregnancy, normal blood glucose control is more important than ever. Your first step should be to speak with your health care provider about tightening up your blood glucose control even before you become pregnant. He or she should give you a complete physical examination that includes an A1c test and blood pressure check, as well as examining your heart, kidneys, nerves and eyes. Your long-term health - as well as your baby’s - has to be considered.
Tight blood glucose control before and during pregnancy lowers the risk of birth defects. It also lowers the risk of delivering prematurely or giving birth to a larger than normal baby.
Women who have diabetes before becoming pregnant often find that insulin therapy is the best way to gain tight control. Indeed, if you have Type 2 diabetes and are talking diabetes pills, your health care provider will probably talk to you about switching to insulin. Some diabetes medications are not recommended for pregnant women, although insulin is seen as safe for both mother and baby.
Birth control
Certain diabetes pills might interfere with the birth control pill and decrease its effectiveness. Talk with your health care provider about your desire to not become pregnant, and make sure your diabetes medication is not putting you at risk.
Menstrual cycle
Women’s menstrual cycles are regulated by hormones. These hormones ebb and flow through the month and have varying effects on blood glucose levels. Some women notice a real change in their glucose control a week or a few days before their flow begins. Often eating habits change at this time – and the result is that suddenly blood glucose control is far from normal. It’s important for each woman to understand how her menstrual cycle affects her diabetes. It can help to keep track of glucose levels, as well as changes in food habits, exercise and moods. Look for trends that can help you plan for the next month’s cycle.
Menopause
Hormone levels continue to change throughout our lives. None are more apparent than when a woman begins to enter menopause. Hot flashes, mood swings and a lessening of the number of actual periods is a result of hormones changing to accommodate this stage in life. Your diabetes medications may need to change to adapt to your changing hormones as blood glucose levels will likely be affected.
