#ThursdayThoughts
As promised, each Thursday, we will now offer you a piece of educational, science, or research related information. The purpose of our #ThursdayThoughts post is to share with you fact-based content that can enlighten and assist you on your fertility journey. Enjoy our post! Helping to Create New Beginnings….
Diabetes and Female Infertility
The CDC reports that 34 million people in the United States have Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM).[1] Diabetes does not always present with obvious symptoms and can develop over time. Insulin is secreted by the pancreas to help get glucose from the foods we eat into our cells to be used for energy. In DM, blood glucose is too high and cannot be used by our bodies efficiently.
A hemoglobin A1c (HgbA1c) blood test can screen for diabetes and also determine whether blood sugars are under good control in known diabetics. A HgbA1c value > 7% is associated with higher risk for fetal malformations; therefore, it is important for pregnant women with diabetes to maintain excellent control of their blood sugars. Women with diabetes may also have lower fertility rates, especially if diabetes is uncontrolled. Starting an exercise routine, healthy diet, and weight loss can improve blood sugar levels and chance of pregnancy. The use of medication such as Metformin or insulin may also be incorporated.[2] [3] . Diabetes can be prevented and treated, thus leading to a healthy, safe pregnancy.
For more information regarding treatment and evaluation please schedule an appointment with one of our providers at the Fertility Institute of Hawaii at 808-545-2800 or visit our website.
[1]https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/type2.html
[2] Szaboova, Romana, and Senan Devendra. “Infertility in a young woman with Type 2 diabetes.” London journal of primary care vol. 7,3 (2015): 55-7. doi:10.1080/17571472.2015.11494378.
[3] Livshits A, Seidman DS. Fertility issues in women with diabetes. Womens Health (Lond). 2009;5(6):701-707. doi:10.2217/whe.09.47
