PCOS and Diabetes - Is there a connection?

Doctors have long suspected that there exists a link between diabetes and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS affects a woman’s endocrine system and causes the male hormone – androgen to rise in her body.

Researchers think that your body's resistance to insulin may have a role in PCOS. In addition to insulin resistance, hereditary factors and inflammation can also cause PCOS.

What are the symptoms of PCOS?

You will notice the following symptoms when you have PCOS –

• Hair will grow excessively on your body

• Acne

• Your menstrual cycles will be irregular

• You may gain weight

In some cases, it may also affect your chances of conceiving a child.

What is the link between PCOS and diabetes?

One of the theories is that insulin resistance causes changes to develop in the endocrine system, and eventually, results in type 2 diabetes. This type of diabetes affects you when the cells of your body turn resistant to insulin.

You can prevent type 2 diabetes through a healthy diet and exercise. PCOS, however, is a risk factor of diabetes.

Women who experience PCOS during the early stages of their adulthood, their risk of diabetes and cardiovascular problems in later life also increases.

A study also found if you are pregnant and have PCOS then your chances of developing gestational diabetes also rises by 3 times.

Can treating one problem help treat the other?

Exercising regularly helps keep blood sugar levels stable and weight in check. Exercise has also been shown to help with PCOS symptoms. The excess sugar is utilized by the body during exercise and this will help make the body cells less resistant to insulin.

Once insulin resistance drops, it benefits both PCOS and diabetes.

Moreover, eating healthy also helps keep PCOS and diabetes in check. It is recommended to eat a diet that includes lean proteins, whole grains, and a lot of fruits and vegetables.

Then there are specific treatments for both conditions that may either benefit the other or counter the other. Let us understand this clearly with an example – birth control pills are used in PCOS to regulate the menstrual cycle. However, these pills increase blood sugar levels simultaneously.

Talk to a doctor if you have doubts about your treatment plan. Taking the right medications and following a healthy lifestyle can help with both these conditions.