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Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (or PCOS) is a condition that can affect the ability of a woman to produce eggs. PCOS is directly linked with higher levels of circulating insulin, which is a characteristic feature in those with type 2 diabetes. Thus suggesting the link between PCOS and diabetes.
Understanding The PCOS And Diabetes Link
It has been suspected for quite a long period that there is a close link between PCOS and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Over the years, experts believe that both these health complications are related.
PCOS causes disruption in the endocrine system of women and increases their levels of androgen, which is also known as a male hormone.
Research has shown that insulin resistance, specifically, may play an active role in causing PCOS in women. Insulin resistance by insulin receptors leads to extremely high levels of insulin, which is produced by the pancreas.
Other factors that can lead to PCOS include hereditary factors and low-grade inflammation. According to a 2018 study conducted on mice, PCOS is caused by excess exposure (in utero) to anti-Müllerian hormone.
Does PCOS Cause Diabetes?
Some studies suggest that insulin resistance can lead to an adverse reaction that involves the endocrine system, thus paving the way for type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body’s cells become resistant to insulin and/or an abnormal amount of insulin is produced.
Whereas type 2 diabetes can be prevented or successfully managed through physical exercise and consumption of a proper diet, research has shown that PCOS is a strong and independent risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes.
In fact, women who develop PCOS during young adulthood are at a higher risk for diabetes and, potentially, fatal heart problems, occurring later in life.
Does PCOS Cause Gestational Diabetes?
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Australian researchers collected data from over 8,000 women and found that those women who had developed PCOS were 4-8.8 times more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes in comparison with women who did not develop PCOS. In this study, obesity was an important risk factor.
In addition, according to this study, pregnant women with PCOS are approximately three times as likely to develop gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) in comparison with women without PCOS.
Thus, when it comes to the question, “does PCOS increase risk of gestational diabetes,” the answer is an unfortunate yes.
Gestational diabetes puts both the pregnancy and baby at a risk, with further risks of developing Type 2 diabetes in both mother and child, later in life.
How To Treat PCOS?
Regular exercise and physical activity are crucial for the health of the body, especially when it comes to combatting type 2 diabetes and obesity. It has also been shown to help with PCOS-associated symptoms. Moreover, exercise helps in burning off excessive blood sugar, and because exercise helps one in losing excessive weight, the cells become more sensitive to insulin. This enables the body to use insulin in a far more effective manner, benefitting those with diabetes as well as those women with PCOS.
That said, specific treatments for both diabetes and PCOS may complement or offset one another.
For instance, those with PCOS are further treated with birth-control pills, which help in regulating menstruation and clearing acne, in some cases. However, some birth control pills may cause an increase in blood sugar levels, which is a major problem for those at risk for diabetes. However, metformin (the first-line medication for type 2 diabetes) is also used to help in treating insulin resistance in those with PCOS.
On A Final Note
A sedentary lifestyle and over-nutrition could be accelerating causes of metabolic PCOS. That said, PCOS may be subject to genetic mechanisms as well as hormonal features that are not often considered when it comes to clinical practice. The primary task of endocrinologists is to successfully evaluate each patient, according to their phenotype as early as possible, to guide them in making changes to their lifestyle, obtaining appropriate pharmacologic treatment, and eventually preventing the ever-increasing lifetime cardiovascular risks in these women.
