|
Posted 3/3/2009 @ 9:01:45 am by womenandnutrition.com
|
More than fifteen million people in the United States have diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is the most common, as it occurs in most cases of diabetes; this disease is more prevalent in people who are overweight. It affects women differently than it affects men; it can affect a woman’s heart and she can even spontaneously develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy. It does go away after she gives birth, but this leaves her and her baby more likely to develop diabetes later in life.
While women with type 1 diabetes can develop sexual problems, it is more common in type 2 diabetes. This disease causes low hormone levels, which causes vaginal dryness. Nerve damage or blood vessel damage can also occur, leaving a woman with poor lubrication. The high glucose causes yeast infections that can lead to urinary tract infections if not treated quickly. Nerve damage can prevent the ability to have an orgasm and decrease the desire to have sexual intercourse.
Having this disease can cause women to experience menopause earlier than women without diabetes. When diabetic women encounter menopause, problems occur when the insulin interacts with the estrogen, testosterone and thyroid hormones. Diabetes makes birth control pills less effective, so you should use a second form of birth control as well.
Speak with your doctor about different treatment options for you. Proper diet and exercise can help to manage this disease. They cannot prevent it in people with a genetic disposition, but they can prevent it from developing too early.
