Why can polycystic ovaries cause high blood sugar?

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Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder that causes uncomfortable problems due to too much androgen (testosterone) hormone in women. PCOS is also linked to health complications like diabetes. So why can polycystic ovaries cause high blood sugar? You can find out through the following article.

1. Polycystic Ovary and Diabetes

Polycystic ovary is a dangerous disease and can lead to other health problems. So it's important that you take care of your body to prevent or control complications, including diabetes.
Diabetes occurs when blood sugar levels get too high. This is caused by insulin resistance, which prevents the body from using all of the glucose in the blood for energy.
While type 2 diabetes is often preventable or controllable through exercise and proper diet, research shows that polycystic ovaries are a strong independent risk factor for developing diabetes.
According to health organizations, up to 40% of women with PCOS may develop prediabetes (or very high blood sugar), especially in overweight patients. Up to 10% of PCOS patients will develop diabetes. More than half of women with PCOS and being overweight develop type 2 diabetes by the age of 40.
But why are polycystic ovaries and diabetes related? Although this mechanism is quite complex, it is important for patients to understand in order to proactively prevent it. Overall, it's the elevated testosterone levels that lead to insulin resistance that may be to blame.

2. Data from studies

Australian researchers collected data from more than 8,000 women and found that those with polycystic ovaries are 4- to 8.8 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than women with women without PCOS. Of these, obesity is an important risk factor.
According to older research, about 27% of premenopausal women with type 2 diabetes also have PCOS. A 2017 study of Danish women found that those with PCOS were four times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Women with PCOS also tend to be diagnosed with diabetes four years earlier than women without PCOS.
Given this well-recognized association, experts recommend that women with PCOS be screened for type 2 diabetes earlier and more often than women without.
According to an Australian study, pregnant women with PCOS are 3 times more likely to develop gestational diabetes than women without the disease.
Many studies have shown that PCOS and its symptoms are also commonly found in women with type 1 diabetes.

3. Why can polycystic ovaries lead to prediabetes and diabetes?

A woman's body with PCOS can make insulin, but cannot use it effectively, increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes. Hormones such as elevated testosterone stimulate insulin production, then causes insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia. All of these contribute to the potential development of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.
High insulin levels are not only a side effect of PCOS, but also play a role in PCOS induction and progression. . Therefore, experts assess that this mechanism is "a vicious cycle". Specifically, high insulin levels stimulate the ovaries to produce more hormones, including testosterone. This leads to problems like hirsutism, irregular menstrual cycles, and weight gain.
See also: Weight gain due to polycystic ovary syndrome: Causes, treatment
On the other hand, insulin also aggravates PCOS. Insulin directly causes specialized sheath cells in the ovary (theca cells) to produce androgens. Insulin can also trigger an increase in the number of actual cortical cells in the ovary, thereby increasing the ovary's ability to produce androgens.
High levels of insulin can also reduce production of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), which further leads to elevated levels of the male hormone testosterone.
Lifestyle can have a big impact on insulin resistance, especially if a woman is overweight due to an unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity. Losing weight will often improve symptoms, regardless of the cause of the insulin resistance.
Related to the weight gain of many PCOS patients, insulin can actually increase your appetite. You may find sweet foods especially delicious, increasing your desire to eat more. The condition also impairs fatty acid oxidation, making it harder to burn fat and possibly contributing to weight gain.
Finally, polycystic ovary syndrome and diabetes also run in families. If you have a mother or sister with PCOS or type 2 diabetes, you are more likely to have PCOS.

4. PCOS and gestational diabetes

It's important to note that PCOS can also lead to gestational diabetes, which is a condition in which women experience increased blood sugar during pregnancy. This can lead to birth complications like: premature birth, breathing problems, jaundice, etc. Gestational diabetes not only puts the pregnancy and baby at risk, but can also lead to type 2 diabetes later in life for both mother and baby. Therefore, women during pregnancy need to work closely with their doctors to find the best possible health-supportive foods and lifestyle habits.
Go to a medical facility if you have irregular monthly periods, difficulty getting pregnant, acne or hirsutism. If you know you have PCOS, ask about getting tested for diabetes and how to manage it. Making healthy changes, like losing weight if you're overweight and getting more physically active, can reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes, help you better manage it, and prevent health problems. other. Polycystic ovary disease not only causes weight gain, affecting fertility, but also causes high blood sugar, increases the risk of diabetes, gestational diabetes. Therefore, to ensure health as well as avoid complications caused by polycystic ovary syndrome, women should go for regular gynecological health check-ups at trusted specialized medical facilities to early detection of disease and appropriate treatment solutions, avoid affecting health and reproduction later.
Vinmec International General Hospital is a prestigious gynecological treatment address with modern equipment and a team of highly skilled and professional doctors. Currently, Vinmec has a basic Gynecological Examination and Screening Package, helping customers to detect gynecological diseases early, including polycystic ovary disease. From there, doctors will give advice to limit the risk of complications of the disease and treatment regimens to ensure health and fertility for customers in the future.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

References: endocrineweb.com, .cdc.gov, healthline.com