Diabetes And Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): Is There A Link?

If you are a diabetic woman who has irregular periods and excess facial and body hair, it could be due to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). While it is not known exactly why PCOS develops, many PCOS patients also have diabetes — and this suggests that there may be a link between the two diseases.

What is PCOS?

PCOS is a hormonal disease that affects around 10 percent of females of reproductive age. Generally, women with PCOS may have reduced or prolonged menstrual periods as well as high levels of male hormone (androgens). A significant proportion of women with PCOS also have trouble conceiving, though many are able to get pregnant without too many issues.

Why does PCOS cause infertility?

Women's ovaries feature follicles — small, fluid-filled sacs that contain eggs. When an egg matures, the follicle releases it during ovulation. For women with PCOS, the immature follicles form into large cysts or lumps. The eggs mature within these large lumps instead of going to the uterus. Women with PCOS might not have menstrual periods or will only occasionally have periods. When the eggs are not able to be released to be fertilized, women with PCOS suffer from infertility.

How do I know I have PCOS?

If you are a teenager or adult woman who is experiencing the following symptoms, you should get tested for PCOS:

• Irregular menstrual cycles
• No or irregular periods
• Heavy bleeding, often for a longer period of time
• Periods that are very painful
• Infertility or an inability to get pregnant
• Having lots of acne
• Having lots of facial hair
• Waist measurement bigger than 35 inches
• Waist that is bigger than the hips
• Acanthosis nigricans (darker patches of skin)

So, what is the relationship between PCOS and diabetes?

Women with diabetes are also more likely to be diagnosed with PCOS earlier in life compared to women without diabetes. Furthermore, women who develop PCOS when they are young adults are at a higher risk for developing diabetes later in life. Finally, studies have also shown that women with type 1 diabetes are more likely to have PCOS.

Why does think link exist?

Insulin resistance occurs when the cells become resistant to the effects of insulin. Some researchers believe that insulin resistance, which is the main symptom of patients with type 2 diabetes, causes the endocrine (hormone) system to go haywire. Insulin resistance-mediated hormonal disruption can lead to PCOS.

Additionally, these two diseases have shared risk factors, such as obesity. Obese women are more likely to develop both diabetes and PCOS, establishing another link between the two diseases.

How do I prevent or treat PCOS and diabetes?

Fortunately, there are things you can do to treat and prevent both diseases. These include:

• Exercise. Studies have shown that regular exercise can help prevent obesity (a major risk factor for PCOS and diabetes), as well as type 2 diabetes. Exercise helps prevent type 2 diabetes by circumventing insulin resistance as exercise encourages muscle cells to take up the available sugar in the blood without the need for insulin. Furthermore, losing weight can make cells of the body more sensitive to insulin. Exercise has also been shown to improve symptoms associated with PCOS.
• Balanced diet. Eating a balanced diet is important when it comes to reducing the risk of diabetes and managing your weight. You should make sure to include whole grains, lean proteins, healthy fats and plenty of fruits/vegetables in your diet.
• Metformin. Many patients with type 2 diabetes are treated using a medication called metformin. Metformin also helps treat insulin resistance in PCOS patients. Thus, it can help treat both diseases.

Some of the medical treatments that are used to treat one disease may actually have a negative effect on the other. For example, many women with PCOS are treated using birth control pills. However, birth control pills can increase blood sugar levels, which is detrimental to your diabetes management.

Conclusion