Irregular Menstrual Cycles May Predict Diabetes
Irregular Menstrual Cycles May Predict Diabetes Not all women have a regular four-week menstruation cycle; cycles can range from between 20 to 40 or more days, and in some women the cycle length changes regularly. Diabetes, a condition in which a person has higher than normal blood sugar, can cause damage to the heart, eyes, kidneys, nerves, and other organs. Unusually long, extremely irregular, or infrequent menstrual cycles may be linked to insulin resistance and the development of type 2 (or adult-onset) diabetes. To assess the risk for type 2 diabetes in women with a history of irregular menstrual cycles, the authors of a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association followed over 100,000 women who had reported their menstrual cycle patterns from 18-22 years of age. A "usual" cycle was considered to be 26 to 31 days; weight, race, family history, cigarette use, and other factors were also examined. Women with long (40+ days) or irregular menstrual cycles were more than twice as likely to develop type 2 diabetes over the 10-year study period than women with usual cycles. Women with very short cycles (21 days or less) were 1.5 times more likely to develop the condition than those with normal cycles. Overweight women had a significantly increased risk for type 2 diabetes as well, but obesity could not account for the increased risk in women with irregular cycles. Unusual menstrual cycles may indicate metabolic changes that increase a woman's risk for insulin resistance. Insulin resistance hinders a woman's ability to process sugars and can cause type 2 diabetes over time. If you typically have very long or short menstrual cycles, especially if your menstrual cycle is highly irregular, take extra precautions to prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. Ta Continue reading >>
Long Menstrual Cycle Is Associated With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus In Korean Women
Long Menstrual Cycle Is Associated with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Korean Women Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. Corresponding author: Jee-Young Oh. Department of Internal Medicine, Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, 911-1 Mok-dong, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul 158-710, Korea. [email protected] Received 2010 Oct 4; Accepted 2011 Jan 19. Copyright 2011 Korean Diabetes Association This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License ( ) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Long menstrual cycle is a risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in women. We aimed to evaluate the association between existing type 2 diabetes and oligomenorrhea before diagnosis of diabetes, and to observe the differences in this association among obese and non-obese Korean women. Patients with type 2 diabetes (n=118) and without any clinical evidence of abnormal glucose regulation (n=258) who attended the outpatient clinic of a university hospital and were over age 30. Patients self-reporting a menstrual cycle over 40 days during their 20s were defined as oligomenorrhea before diagnosis of diabetes. Obesity was defined as having a body mass index (BMI) over 25 kg/m2. The frequency of oligomenorrhea before diagnosis of diabetes was almost two-fold higher in women with type 2 diabetes than in the control group (16.1% vs. 8.5%, P=0.03). Oligomenorrhea was associated with type 2 diabetes after adjusting for age, BMI, systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, and high density lipoprotein ch Continue reading >>
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How To Manage Your Period As A Diabetic
Three Parts: Coping With Heavier Periods Using At-Home Solutions Dealing with Blood Sugar Changes Community Q&A As a diabetic, you know most things in life come with extra challenges, and menstruation is no different. Women with diabetes often experience heavier periods when they are in their teens or 20s. You may have longer periods overall, as well as heavier bleeding. [1] However, it's not just your period that is affected. Your period can also affect your blood sugar levels, due to the rise in hormones. You need to carefully monitor your blood sugar levels during your cycle to help keep them under control. Talk about hormonal contraceptives. It is believed that diabetes disrupts hormone balance. Hormonal contraceptives are helpful for many women. They can help balance your hormones, which in turn can decrease the severity of your period. Many women on hormonal contraceptives, like the birth control pill, find they have very light periods. Ask your doctor if this option is a good one for you. [2] Most women who are diabetic and on oral contraceptives adjust just fine. However, it is possible that this treatment could raise your blood sugar levels, so keep an eye on that if you choose this method. [3] Other options include hormonal intrauterine devices, as well as other types of oral hormones, such as progesterone. Ask about iron supplements. If you experience heavy bleeding on your period as a diabetic, you may need to talk to your doctor about iron supplements. Your doctor can check your blood work to see if you have low iron (iron anemia). If you do, your doctor will likely recommend that you take iron supplements, as well as increase iron in your diet. [4] However, it's important to check your blood work and talk to your doctor before starting supplements. High i Continue reading >>
Uterine Cancer And Abnormal Vaginalbleeding
Uterine Cancer and Abnormal VaginalBleeding When there is abnormal vaginal bleeding, it is vitally important that this be discussed with your doctor and the cause looked into. There are many possible reasons, some more serious than others. You cant tell what the cause is just by symptoms alone. Two of the possible causes are endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial cancer cancer of the uterus. Endometrial hyperplasia can progress over time to be endometrial cancer. At the point in time when the abnormal bleeding starts, you dont know which it is. One of the risk factors for these two conditions is obesity. Sometimes abnormal vaginal bleeding first shows up when the medication metformin is started. Metformin is not the cause of the abnormality in the uterus, it is just triggering some shedding of the already abnormal lining of the uterus. More on that below. First, some basic information to understand this condition. Here is a link to a patient education page published by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Researchers are studying the possible benefit of metformin as one part of an approach to the prevention or treatment of both endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial cancer. For example, the major cancer centre MD Anderson Cancer Center is currently studying this. From their web page: Project 1: Metformin for the Chemoprevention of Endometrial Cancer in Obese, Insulin-Resistant Women Obese women clearly are at increased risk for developing endometrial cancer. Numerous epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that obesity is strongly associated with an increased risk of endometrial cancer. While an average woman has a 3% lifetime risk of endometrial cancer, obese women have a 9-10% lifetime risk of endometrial cancer. In a review of diet and cancer b Continue reading >>
Vaginal Problems
Excessive or Otherwise Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding Many women experience this problem at some point in their lives. It is defined as bleeding from the vagina that is not part of your monthly periods or bleeding that occurs during monthly periods but is heavier than usual. Some common causes in women of reproductive age are the birth control pill, which can cause bleeding between periods; problems with hormones produced by the thyroid, ovaries, pituitary, or adrenal glands; infections, such as sexually transmitted diseases, of the vagina, cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries; and miscarriage or problems with pregnancy. A miscarriage of an early pregnancy can resemble a heavy period that occurs after the woman has missed at least one period. Bleeding between cycles that does not last long is often due to scars, tumors, fibroids, or other abnormal tissue on the cervix or uterus. Ovarian cysts are another possibility. Regular, prolonged, heavy bleeding is often caused by growths in the uterine lining, or endometrium. These growths may or may not be cancerous. Perimenopausal women may bleed off-cycle as part of the gradual onset of menopause. Postmenopausal women should see a doctor immediately if they experience vaginal bleeding since benign or cancerous tumors of the ovaries or uterus are more likely causes. Other potential culprits are injury to the vagina or reproductive tract during rape or surgery, and the presence of objects such as a tampon stuck in the vagina. Bleeding disorders that affect the whole body, such as leukemia and clotting problems, can cause abnormal vaginal bleeding just as they produce bleeding elsewhere. Vaginal bleeding along with fever, abdominal pain, or unusual mucus or other substances coming from the vagina (known as vaginal discharge) ma Continue reading >>
Diabetes Symptoms In Women
Tweet Women should be aware of the symptoms of gestational diabetes, a form of diabetes that develops during pregnancy and diabetes resulting from PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome). If you notice the symptoms of diabetes, the NHS advises that you contact a GP as soon as possible. Treating diabetes early can help to prevent further health complications. What are the symptoms of diabetes that are specific to women? Women may experience the following symptoms: This is over and above the general symptoms of diabetes, which include the following: Thrush and yeast infections Vaginal thrush (vulvovaginal candidiasis) can be a symptom of diabetes as high blood sugar levels can cause glucose to be excreted via the urine. Glucose in the urine can create a fertile breeding ground for yeast infections. Symptoms of vaginal yeast infections include: Soreness and itching around the vagina Reddening of the skin A white curd like appearance on the skin White vaginal discharge Pain during intercourse Oral yeast infections can also occur as a symptom of diabetes. Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) can cause difficulties in sexual activity in the following ways: Lack of sex drive Difficulty with arousal and achieving orgasm Pain during intercourse (dyspareunia) High blood sugar levels over a period of time can lead to poor blood supply and/or nerve damage which can lead to problems with arousal and achieving orgasm. High blood sugar can also lead to a lack of natural lubrication in the vagina which can make sex difficult or painful. Psychological reasons can be an alternative reason for female sexual dysfunction. Gestational diabetes Gestational diabetes is a specific form of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. The symptoms of gestational diabetes are the sam Continue reading >>
Your Menstrual Cycle And Blood Sugar Levels
Diabetes can affect a woman's reproductive health because the hormones that control menstruation can cause changes in blood glucose levels. Learn to monitor patterns in your blood glucose changes that correlate to your menstrual cycles. Hormones and blood glucose levels The hormones that regulate your menstrual cycle, estrogen and progesterone, interact with the insulin hormone and may make your body more resistant to its own insulin or injected insulin. Because of this, either before, after, or during menstruation you may experience a rise in blood glucose levels for three to five days. These effects might be consistent from month to month, or they might vary, making them more difficult to monitor. An increase in your levels of progesterone can also trigger food cravings that can make diabetes management more difficult. Diabetes and your menstrual cycle Just as your menstrual cycle affects your diabetes, your diabetes, in turn, affects your menstrual cycle. Women with type 1 diabetes, on average, start menstruation a year later than women without diabetes, and they are more likely to have menstrual problems before age 30. Diabetes also increases a woman's chances of having longer menstrual cycles and periods, heavier periods, and earlier onset of menopause. Managing diabetes and your cycle The key to knowing how your menstrual cycle affects your diabetes and vice versa is careful monitoring. Track menstrual cycle changes that relate to your diabetes as closely as you would your blood sugar levels. Using a period tracker app can help you keep track of your cycle and clue you into when you might start experiencing high blood sugars. Compare your cycle with your blood glucose levels and note any trends that you see so you can be prepared for diabetes management changes in Continue reading >>
Bleeding Between Periods - 15 Common Causes Of Spotting
Bleeding Between Periods - 15 Common Causes of Spotting "Hello, I have a big concern because last week I got my period (quite normal, I might add) and today I had blood stains in my underwear. This is the first time this has happened! I wonder if vaginal bleeding between periods can occur sometimes for no apparent reason or if it is a sign of something more serious. Should I consult a gynecologist or do you know a herbal remedy to prevent or cure it ? Thank you if you can give me some useful information on this subject." _ Sarah.R In medical terminology, vaginal hemorrhage or bleeding outside the menstrual period are called metrorrhagia (from the Greek: Metro = matrix, uterus and Rhage = a flow, gush). Bleeding outside the menstrual period is certainly a worrying and stressful symptom, which may appear at any time during the life of a woman of childbearing age. In some cases, abnormal bleeding can be quite harmless, but also bear in mind that in other cases, bleeding outside the menstrual period may be a sign of a serious condition. Discover what are the most common causes of bleeding between periods, and what you should do in this situation causes. The normal periods consist of a flow of blood from the uterus, which marks the end of a menstrual cycle. They last about three to six days, and although it may seem more, the amount of blood lost during your period is only two to six tablespoons (30 to 80ml). Normal menstruation occurs on average every 28 days, give or take 7 days. 15 Common Causes of Bleeding Between Periods Functional uterine bleeding (FUB) occur most frequently between periods when the body has a hormonal imbalance or endocrine disruption. For example, a deficiency in the secretion of progesterone (luteal insufficiency) may be responsible for poor develo Continue reading >>
Diabetes-related Causes Of Vaginal Bleeding
Diabetes-related causes of Vaginal bleeding Our information shows that 3causes of Vaginal bleeding are related to diabetes, or a family history of diabetes (from a list of 147total causes).These diseases and conditions may be more likely causes of Vaginal bleeding if the patient has diabetes,is at risk of diabetes, or has a family history of diabetes. The full list of all possible causes for Vaginal bleeding described in various sources is as follows: Drug side effect causes of Vaginal bleeding The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins may possibly cause Vaginal bleeding as a side effect. [ See detailed list of 21drug side effect causes of Vaginal bleeding ] Conditions listing medical symptoms: Vaginal bleeding: The following list of conditionshave ' Vaginal bleeding ' or similarlisted as a symptom in our database.This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete.Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the causeof any symptom. Select from the following alphabetical view of conditions whichinclude a symptom of Vaginal bleeding or choose View All. View All A B C D E F G H I L M N O P R S T U V Y Conditions listing medical complications: Vaginal bleeding: The following list of medical conditions have ' Vaginal bleeding ' or similar listed as a medical complication in our database. By using this site you agree to our Terms of Use . Information provided on this site is for informational purposes only; it is not intended as a substitute for advice from your own medical team. The information on this site is not to be used for diagnosing or treating any health concerns you may have - please contact your physician or health care professional for all your medical needs. Please see our Terms of Use . Continue reading >>
Periods (menstruation) And Diabetes
Tweet Different stages of the menstrual cycle may have different effects on your blood glucose levels and the effect can also vary from person to person and from month to month. Recording your blood glucose results can be helpful in finding patterns in your levels and helping you to better control your diabetes. How will my period affect my sugar levels? There is not a definite answer to this as periods affect each one of us differently. However, many women report having higher blood sugar levels a few days prior to their period starting. During your period, you may experience high blood sugar levels but some women notice a sharp drop in sugar levels so it’s best to be prepared for unexpected changes to happen. Why does blood sugar rise before or during periods? Before and during your period, changes in the level of the hormones oestrogen and progesterone can induce temporary resistance to insulin which can last for up to a few days and then drop off. Some girls and women have consistent effects as to how their period affects blood sugar whereas other women may find that the effect on blood sugar varies from one month to another. Coping with periods The effect on blood sugar as a result of periods can change from one month to another so keeping a diary of your blood glucose numbers can help you to see if there are any patterns in your results across different months. If you are finding your blood glucose levels go very high before or during your period, you may need to either inject more insulin (if insulin dependent) or reduce your carbohydrate intake. If you increase your insulin, be careful to avoid hypoglycemia as your insulin sensitivity can sometimes return quickly. Speak to your health team if you need advice on how to manage your insulin doses or carbohydrate Continue reading >>
Spotting Between Periods: Should You Worry?
Everyday Health Women's Health Women's Health Spotting Between Periods: Should You Worry? What it means if youre bleeding between periods or spotting on birth control and what you should do about it. Sign Up for Our Women's Health Newsletter Thanks for signing up! You might also like these other newsletters: Sign up for more FREE Everyday Health newsletters . Spotting means different things depending on your stage of life. Because spotting can have different causes, any unexpected bleeding should be checked by your doctor. Bleeding after sex that occurs between periods could indicate that you have an infection . After age 30, the chance that spotting could indicate cancer goes up. Bleeding between periods, or spotting, can occur for many reasons. The cause is usually benign. Hormonal fluctuations that occur at the very beginning of your reproductive life cycle (menarche, the onset of periods) or toward the end (menopause, when periods stop) are often likely culprits. Still, spotting between periods is never normal, saysJoyce Gottesfeld, MD, an ob/gyn at Kaiser Permanente Colorado in Denver. That means if you do find yourself bleeding between periods, you should get it checked out by your doctor, she says. "It doesn't necessarily mean that something bad is going on, but it's not normal. When investigating abnormal bleeding, healthcare providers consider your age and whether youre pregnant, have been having unprotected sex, or recently started using a hormonal contraceptive . If youve started taking the birth control pill or gotten a progesterone implant , its not unusual to experience irregular bleeding. If spotting doesn't taper off, talk to your doctor. You're probably going to want to change birth control pills, because nobody wants to deal with that all the time, Dr Continue reading >>
Diabetes And Your Period
My blood sugar had been running high all week. One morning it spiked to 300, and it took all day (and extra injections) before I could get it back down to “normal” levels. I was also crampy, bloated, and irritable and knew exactly why I was feeling this way. A few days later I got my period and my blood sugars returned to “normal.” I wrote about fluctuations during the menstrual cycle for a chapter in my book, The Smart Woman’s Guide to Diabetes, and yet every month I’m newly frustrated as if it’s happening for the first time. No woman enjoys having her period, but I’ve always felt that mine was particularly problematic. Not only do I get crampy and bloated, I also feel drained because of high blood sugars. In a 2003 study, women with Type 1 diabetes were shown to have more menstrual problems (long cycles, long menstruation, and heavy menstruation) before age 30 years than their peers without diabetes. These problems may indicate increased risk for osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. It was also shown that women with Type 1 diabetes got their periods nearly a year later than control subjects. I got my period the same year I was diagnosed with diabetes and never had regular cycles. I didn’t mind having irregular periods until I was trying to get pregnant and had to take Clomid to kick-start my ovulation. I bought countless pregnancy tests in hopes that the reason I wasn’t getting my period each month was because I was finally pregnant, but each test was negative. I’d heard so many discouraging stories and myths about fertility challenges for women with Type 1 (such as big babies and birth defects) that I was overwhelmed with worry. I made threats in the dark to the Diabetes Gods that if I couldn’t get pregnant, I would give up. I was tired of Continue reading >>
Women And Diabetes | Diabetesnet.com
Mon, 11/15/2010 - 11:33 -- Richard Morris Fluctuations in hormone levels occur through the menstrual cycle and these fluctuations can affect blood sugar control. When estrogen levels are naturally high, your body may be resistant to its own insulin or injected insulin. Many women find their blood sugar tends to be high 3-5 days before, during or after their periods. Since everyone is different, the only way to manage blood sugars in a setting where sensitivity to insulin changes is to test and record blood sugars four or more times a day the week before, during and after your period for at least 2 or 3 months to find your own pattern. This allows you to adjust your insulin doses and carb intake both before and during this time to better control your blood sugar. Premenstrual symptoms (PMS) can be worsened by poor blood sugar control. It helps to chart your feelings such as tenderness, bloating, grouchiness for a week before, during and after your period. Charting will help you know when your PMS reach their peak during your period so that before your PMS is most severe, you can check your blood sugar more often and take extra insulin or exercise to bring high blood sugars down. Food cravings during PMS are triggered by an increase in progesterone and can make it more difficult to control your blood sugar. Usually the craving is for chocolate or sweet foods. Give in to your cravings by trying sugar-free and fat-free versions, such as chocolate pudding. Take extra insulin or increase your exercise to compensate. You may feel less like exercising during your period. If so, extra insulin may be a good choice for keeping your blood sugar from rising. The extra insulin needed to overcome insulin resistance during this time will not cause weight gain. Treat yourself well duri Continue reading >>
Vaginal Bleeding Between Periods
Abnormal vaginal bleeding between periods is also called intermenstrual bleeding, spotting, and metrorrhagia. When bleeding occurs between normal periods, there are many possible causes. While some causes may be easy to treat, others can indicate a serious underlying condition. Whether you notice spotting or heavier bleeding between periods, its important to see your doctor for testing, diagnosis, and treatment options. Potential causes of bleeding between periods include: Causesof vaginal bleeding between periods Bleeding between periods isnt a normal part of the menstrual cycle. The average cycle lasts 21 to 35 days . Normal vaginal bleeding, also known as your period, can happen for a few days to a week. Any bleeding outside of this is considered abnormal and can be caused by a variety of factors. These include: Estrogen and progesterone are the two hormones that regulate your cycle. You may have spotting if they get out of balance. The following can all affect your hormone balance: As well, some women spot during ovulation as a result of hormonal changes. When starting any type of hormonal contraceptive, abnormal bleeding is common during the first three months , according to the National Health Services of the United Kingdom. These contraceptives include: Complications during pregnancy can cause spotting. Both a miscarriage and an ectopic pregnancy can cause bleeding. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants itself in the fallopian tube instead of the uterus. Spotting during pregnancy may not mean youre having a miscarriage. However, if youre pregnant and experience any vaginal bleeding, you should contact your doctor immediately. Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths that form in the uterus. They arent uncommon in women whove given birth. Va Continue reading >>
Will You Have Vaginal Bleeding Between Periods With Diabetes? - Ehealthme
Diabetes and Vaginal bleeding between periods - from FDA reports Vaginal bleeding between periods is found among people with Diabetes, especially for people who are 50-59 old, take medication Metformin and have Birth control. This review analyzes which people have Vaginal bleeding between periods with Diabetes. It is created by eHealthMe based on reports of 39 people who have Diabetes from FDA , and is updated regularly. On eHealthMe you can find out what patients like me (same gender, age) reported their drugs and conditions on FDA since 1977. Our original studies have been referenced on 400+ peer-reviewed medical publications, including: The Lancet, and Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 39 people who have Diabetes and Vaginal Bleeding Between Periods are studied. Age of people who have Diabetes and experience Vaginal Bleeding Between Periods *: Top co-existing conditions for these people *: Hypothyroidism (abnormally low activity of the thyroid gland, resulting in retardation of growth and mental development): 4 people, 10.26% Uterine Leiomyoma (uterine benign tumour derived from smooth muscle): 2 people, 5.13% Bipolar Disorder (mood disorder): 2 people, 5.13% Uterine Polyp (a mass in the inner lining of the uterus): 4 people, 10.26% Tremor (trembling or shaking movements in one or more parts of your body): 4 people, 10.26% Fatigue (feeling of tiredness): 4 people, 10.26% * Approximation only. Some reports may have incomplete information. How to use the study: print a copy of the study and bring it to your health teams to ensure drug risks and benefits are fully discussed and understood. Diabetes can be treated by Metformin, Metformin hydrochloride, Lantus, Januvia, Glipizide ( latest reports from 291,118 Diabetes patients ) Vaginal bleeding between periods has been reported Continue reading >>
