Q: Are women with diabetes at a higher risk for other complications and health threats?
A: Diabetes prevention or control should be a key component of every woman's health maintenance plan.
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), nearly 10 percent of women in the United States have diabetes, and about one third of them do not realize they have it. Since proper diabetes management is key to preventing health complications, undiagnosed diabetes can be especially threatening.
When diabetes is not managed, it can lead to a number of serious and life-threatening complications, such as cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, blindness or damaging foot ulcers that can result in amputation. In addition to these common risk factors, the FDA has warned there are several areas of special concern for women.
Cardiovascular disease: Studies show that women with diabetes have more than three times the risk of developing heart disease - the number one killer of all women - than women without diabetes. Even younger women with diabetes have an increased risk of heart disease.
Why do women with diabetes face an increased risk of heart disease? When women develop diabetes, they have more adverse changes that add to heart disease risk. Their blood pressure rises, HDL (good) cholesterol levels fall, and abdominal fat increases.
Depression: People with diabetes have a much higher rate of depression than the general population. Women experience depression about twice as often as men. The risk of depression increases in women with diabetes. Hormonal factors contribute to the increased rate of depression in women - particularly such factors as menstrual cycle changes, pregnancy, miscarriage, pre-menopause and menopause. Many women also face additional stresses such as juggling responsibilities both at work and home, single parenthood, and caring for children and aging parents.
Peripheral vascular disease (PVD): PVD is a disorder that reduces blood and oxygen flow to feet and leg tissue. If left untreated, it can cause severe discomfort and pain when the blood supply does not meet the body's demand. Women with diabetes are 7.6 times as likely to suffer from peripheral vascular disease (PVD) than women without diabetes.
Pregnancy: During pregnancy, the body requires more insulin than normal because of increased hormone production. Women with diabetes are at a higher risk for health complications for both herself and her baby. Even non-diabetic women can develop gestational diabetes, a form of diabetes that occurs only during pregnancy.
Women can reduce their risks by increasing their awareness of diabetes (prevention, symptoms, management) and receiving their recommended physicals and screenings. If diabetes is diagnosed, women should strive to maintain control through thorough patient education and regular visits with their medical practitioners.
- Dr. Bekx is board certified in endocrinology and internal medicine. He is also a Diplomate of The American Board of Clinical Lipidology. He holds memberships in the American Diabetes Association, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, Endocrine Society and National Lipid Association. Ask your primary care provider about a referral or schedule an appointment with Dr. Bekx, by calling Monroe Clinic at (608) 324-2204.
A: Diabetes prevention or control should be a key component of every woman's health maintenance plan.
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), nearly 10 percent of women in the United States have diabetes, and about one third of them do not realize they have it. Since proper diabetes management is key to preventing health complications, undiagnosed diabetes can be especially threatening.
When diabetes is not managed, it can lead to a number of serious and life-threatening complications, such as cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, blindness or damaging foot ulcers that can result in amputation. In addition to these common risk factors, the FDA has warned there are several areas of special concern for women.
Cardiovascular disease: Studies show that women with diabetes have more than three times the risk of developing heart disease - the number one killer of all women - than women without diabetes. Even younger women with diabetes have an increased risk of heart disease.
Why do women with diabetes face an increased risk of heart disease? When women develop diabetes, they have more adverse changes that add to heart disease risk. Their blood pressure rises, HDL (good) cholesterol levels fall, and abdominal fat increases.
Depression: People with diabetes have a much higher rate of depression than the general population. Women experience depression about twice as often as men. The risk of depression increases in women with diabetes. Hormonal factors contribute to the increased rate of depression in women - particularly such factors as menstrual cycle changes, pregnancy, miscarriage, pre-menopause and menopause. Many women also face additional stresses such as juggling responsibilities both at work and home, single parenthood, and caring for children and aging parents.
Peripheral vascular disease (PVD): PVD is a disorder that reduces blood and oxygen flow to feet and leg tissue. If left untreated, it can cause severe discomfort and pain when the blood supply does not meet the body's demand. Women with diabetes are 7.6 times as likely to suffer from peripheral vascular disease (PVD) than women without diabetes.
Pregnancy: During pregnancy, the body requires more insulin than normal because of increased hormone production. Women with diabetes are at a higher risk for health complications for both herself and her baby. Even non-diabetic women can develop gestational diabetes, a form of diabetes that occurs only during pregnancy.
Women can reduce their risks by increasing their awareness of diabetes (prevention, symptoms, management) and receiving their recommended physicals and screenings. If diabetes is diagnosed, women should strive to maintain control through thorough patient education and regular visits with their medical practitioners.
- Dr. Bekx is board certified in endocrinology and internal medicine. He is also a Diplomate of The American Board of Clinical Lipidology. He holds memberships in the American Diabetes Association, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, Endocrine Society and National Lipid Association. Ask your primary care provider about a referral or schedule an appointment with Dr. Bekx, by calling Monroe Clinic at (608) 324-2204.
