Diabetes During and Past The Reproductive Years
ABNORMAL GLUCOSE IN PREGNANT WOMEN: A WINDOW INTO FUTURE RISKS
Pregnancy is an insulin-resistant state, so future problems with diabetes may show up during this time. Although a pregnant woman with abnormal glucose may see her glucose problems go away once she’s delivered, she is at risk for diabetes in the future. After delivery, her OB/GYN should be in touch with her internist about blood sugar issues. This is important because the internist needs to know that preventive measures are needed even in the absence of symptoms. The internist may want to recommend lifestyle changes, such as strength training and controlling her weight.
PREGNANCY WITH ABNORMAL GLUCOSE CAN MOTIVATE WOMEN TO CHANGE THEIR LIFESTYLES
If a woman has an abnormality in glucose metabolism, this is a perfect time to encourage her to establish habits that she can continue the rest of her life. She’ll usually be highly motivated to do almost anything for her baby. A pregnant woman is apt to be so motivated to protect her baby that she’d be willing to eat cardboard three times a day and stand on her head (figuratively speaking) if it helps her baby! Pregnancy is therefore a very good time to suggest changes that initially will benefit her baby and will lower her long-term risk of developing diabetes.
RESISTANCE TRAINING IS IMPORTANT FOR DIABETES PREVENTION
For everyone who wants to avoid diabetes, resistance training is important. A large number of the body’s glucose receptors are in the body’s muscle mass, and it’s these glucose receptors that pull glucose out of the blood stream for use in the muscles. Muscle mass therefore helps in achieving normal blood sugar. However, as we age, and particularly after menopause, we lose muscle mass, and this makes us increasingly vulnerable to diabetes. Although walking or Zumba or whatever exercise a patient enjoys has many benefits, what’s really important for improved glucose metabolism is resistance training. This means weight lifting or bands or other exercises that focus on strengthening muscles.
ACHIEVING NORMAL WEIGHT IS IMPORTANT, BUT NO SINGLE WEIGHT LOSS REGIMEN IS PERFECT FOR EVERYONE
I tell patients, “You know your body better than I do. You know what foods are your triggers and what works for you.” Portion control diets work well for many patients, but not all. Portion control is the kind of diet that says, “You can eat that donut, but you have to cut back on something else.” Patients need to pay attention to–and minimize–eating foods that are difficult to eat in moderation.
Some patients are able to lose weight by cutting out carbohydrates. My problem with this is, cutting out carbs is not sustainable long-term.
On the other hand, it may be easy for some folks to handle a low-carb diet. One approach that does seem to help many people is they find they are less likely to overeat if they choose unrefined carbohydrates. Complex carbs such as beans are more filling and a person is less likely to overeat when consuming them.
THE GOAL IS TO HELP WOMEN TAKE CONTROL OF THEIR OWN HEALTH
Women do a good job of going to the doctor and having the rights tests. However, they also need to empower themselves to take action. Let’s say a woman visits her doctor because she doesn’t feel well. During the visit, she learns that she’s at risk for diabetes or she already has it. What happens next? Sometimes her response is to feel guilty, defeated, and overwhelmed, with the result that she’ll try to comfort herself by eating more.
As health care providers, we can try to prevent this by giving her positive and realistic things she can do to take control and minimize her risks. Let her know that she doesn’t have to be perfect; instead, encourage her to work on what she can and will do. Maybe she can start lifting weights. Maybe she could buy a new cookbook that would help her change her diet. Make sure to give patients advice on how to make things better and not just focus on how things look at the time.
Search Articles
Latest Articles
Russia’s Ugly Prisoner Exchanges
https://mitziperdue.com/russias-ugly-prisoner-exchanges Boris Semenov, (not his real name) from Bucha, Ukraine had an experience at the hands of the Russian invaders that’s so foreign to us in the West that’s it’s hard for us to process. Still, his story is worth...
Russian Invaders Always Attack Police
When soldiers from the Russian Federation invade a country, a top priority is to incapacitate the local police. The Russians systematically bomb police stations, destroy police communications, and either steal or disable police cars. They’ve done this in each of the 12 wars they’ve been involved with since the Russian Federation was formed in in 1991. (Source)
Russia’s Unusual New Method Of Attack: Fake Bomb Threats
https://www.fairobserver.com/russian-newsrussia-news/russias-unusual-new-method-of-attack-fake-bomb-threats/ Publication – fairobserver.com
The Russian Occupation: a Ukrainian Political Prisoner’s Ordeal
https://townhall.com/columnists/mitzi-perdue/2024/04/06/the-russian-occupation-a-ukrainian-political-prisoners-ordeal-n2637446 Publication – townhall.com
Subscribe to Updates
About Author
Mitzi Perdue is the widow of the poultry magnate, Frank Perdue. She’s the author of How To Make Your Family Business Last and 52 Tips to Combat Human Trafficking. Contact her at www.MitziPerdue.com
All Articles
Women & Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease
Women & Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular DiseaseWOMEN NEED TO BECOME MORE AWARE OF ATHEROSCLEROTIC CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE (ASCVD) A typical woman is more likely to be afraid of breast cancer than heart disease. Yet in this country, roughly 50,000 women will die each...
Contraception: A Call To Action
Contraception: A Call To ActionPOPULATION GROWTH IS DEPLETING RESOURCES NEEDED FOR OUR SURVIVAL The global population is currently 7.2 billion people, and by 2050, it’s projected to be 10 billion. This may have effects we can’t reverse. Humans are the biggest users of...
Dyslipidimia: Problems and Treatments
Dyslipidimia: Problems and Treatments EFFECTIVE LIPID CONTROL CAN INCREASE BOTH THE QUALITY AND LENGTH OF A WOMAN’S LIFE Too many women with dyslipidemia are never discovered or are undertreated. Often they don’t know they have a problem until after they’ve had an...
Breast Cancer: Current Strategies
Breast Cancer: Current StrategiesWITH BREAST CANCER THERE IS NEW REASON FOR OPTIMISM More than two million American women will develop breast cancer in their lifetimes and 39,000 of them will die from it every year. However, even though women who are newly diagnosed...
Sex and Gender Differences In Stroke
Sex and Gender Differences In StrokeWOMEN ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY STROKE Stroke is the third leading cause of death for women. For men, it’s the fifth leading cause. Women have a higher lifetime risk of stroke and they are more likely to die from one. In...
Breastfeeding: It’s Not Just Babies Who Benefit
Breastfeeding: It’s Not Just Babies Who BenefitBREASTFEEDING BENEFITS FOR MOTHERS MAY EXCEED THE BENEFITS FOR THEIR BABIES Doctors have long understood the benefits of breastfeeding for infants. Today, more and more people are recognizing the immense benefits of...