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MIND WCSf u0 m % MUM mJV mLM W * / S i£kwKSmiMS Tl. M. i.l li/iM ♦ SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2007 6A Diabetes: A special risk for women Special to the Journal Having diabetes increas es a woman’s risk of heart attack, congestive heart failure and other heart con ditions almost two to four times,” explains Jody Velie, MD, family practitioner and member of the medi cal staff of-Perry Hospital. “Heart disease, the leading cause of death in people with diabetes, is more serious for women than for men.” According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, diabetic women are 23 per cent more likely to die from heart disease than non-dia betic women, and diabetic women are more likely to die from a first heart attack than men with diabetes. Women with diabetes also tend to have higher blood pressure and lower levels of HDL, or “good” cholesterol, than non diabetic women. For women, diabetes also increases the risk of osteo porosis, the condition that causes bones to shrink and become brittle and break. “If a woman has diabetes, it is in her best interest to work closely with her phy sician to control her blood sugar and her bone density to reduce her risk of osteopo rosis,” says Dr. Velie. Diabetes increases a wom an’s risk of uterine cancer as well as her risk of cer vical cancer, breast cancer and other malignant tumors. Diabetic women with a his tory of irregular menstrual cycles, infertility, hyperten sion, obesity, polycystic ovar ian disease and any other cancer of the reproductive organs are at an increased risk for developing uterine cancer. “The good news about uter ine cancer is that it is almost always curable if diagnosed early,” explains Dr. Velie. “However, the diagnosis fre quently depends on the wom an’s ability to recognize the signs of the disease, which can be subtle, and report them to her physician.” Risk Factors and Causes of Diabetes in Women Many of the risk factors for diabetes affect both women and men including: ■ Family history - individ uals with a history of diabe tes in their family are at an increased risk of developing the condition. ■ Race - certain races are more likely to develop a spe cific type of diabetes than others. For example, African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans and Asians are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes while Caucasians have higher rates of Type 1 diabetes. ■ Obesity - overweight or obese individuals have an increased risk of devel oping Type 2 diabetes. Approximately 80 percent of people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes are considered to be overweight or obese. ■ Physical activity - poor exercise habits and little ,or no physical activity increases a person’s chances of devel oping Type 2 diabetes. ■ Smoking and alcohol both increase a person’s risk of developing Type 2 diabe tes. One risk factor for dia betes that is unique to women is polycystic ovar ian syndrome, a genetically complex hormonal disorder that causes irregular men strual cycles, excessive hair growth and obesity. PCOS typically appears during ado lescence, but it may not be diagnosed until later in a woman’s life when she has difficulty becoming preg nant. Considered to be the most common hormonal dis order in women of reproduc tive age in the United States, PCOS is considered a major Houston Healthcare's Diabetes Management Program In an effort to improve the lives of individuals with diabetes in the Houston County area, Houston Healthcare offers its nationally recognized Outpatient Diabetes Management Program which includes diet instruction classes for diabetics, an exercise program for adults with diabetes, a self-management diabetes education course, and a diabetes pre vention educational series. Nationally recognized by the American Diabetes Association, risk factor for the develop ment of Type 2 diabetes in women because it increases a woman’s level of androgens, or male hormones. “The increased levels of androgens can lead to fertili ty problems and the develop ment of insulin resistance,” explains Dr. Velie. With insu lin resistance, the body’s muscle, fat and liver cells do not use insulin properly caus ing the pancreas to produce more insulin. Eventually, the pancreas cannot keep up with the body’s need for insulin, and excess glucose builds up in the bloodstream. “Many people with insulin resistance have high levels of blood glucose and blood insu lin at the same time which puts them at an increased risk for developing Type 2 diabetes or gestational diabe tes,” she adds. Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes in Women With Type 2 diabetes, the symptoms can take longer to develop with some people experiencing only mild symp toms or none at all. Because of its slow progression, it is important for women at risk for Type 2 diabetes to be aware of the symptoms which include: ■ Frequent urination ■ Excessive thirst ■ Extreme hunger ■ Unexplained weight loss ■ Increased fatigue ■ Irritability ■ Blurry vision ■ Slow-healing sores ■ Frequent infections including yeast infections, * w.'^^' s „. ' ' ‘ ' —■— TJ JL JLouston Healthcare’s Med-Stops offer care for your family’s minor illnesses and injuries on a walk-in basis when your regular doctor’s office is closed or when you don’t need the technical services of the Emergency Room. The Med-Stops are staffed by Board Certified Family Practice and Internal Medicine physicians working with nurses and medical technicians. Lab and x-ray services are available on-site. « ♦ Houston Lake JL Pavilion Med-Stop wKT Med-Stop Hwy. 127 and Moody Road N. Houston Road at Houston Mall 9884865 923-2843 Open Mon - Sat Open Daily 7 am - 6:30 pm 8 am - 7:30 pm urinary tract infections, skin infections and thrush ■ Dry, itchy skin ■ Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet ■ Red, swollen or tender gums “It’s not uncommon for a person to have Type 2 diabetes for 10 years or more before they are diag nosed,” comments Dr. Velie. “Symptoms can also vary from person to person and can be caused by other con ditions. Women experienc ing any of the symptoms for Type 2 diabetes should see a physician for proper diag nosis.” Prevention Methods for Diabetes in Women Research shows that mak ing certain lifestyle changes can prevent or slow the devel opment of Type 2 diabetes in women at risk of developing the disease. Common life style changes include: ■ Eating a healthy diet low in fat and sugar and high in fiber ■ Losing excess body weight and maintaining a healthy weight ■ Exercising regularly to help lower blood sugar lev els and help the body use insulin ■ Controlling cholesterol levels and high blood pres sure ■ Reducing or eliminating alcohol intake ■ Stopping smoking or not starting to smoke because smoking raises blood pres sure and blood sugar levels One possible prevention Urgent Care... when you need it. Houston Healthcare’s Diabetes “In Control” Courses teaches individuals how to better control their diabetes by maintaining blood glucose levels. Designed for adults age i 8 and older with either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, the program includes an individual assessment with a Certified Diabetes Educator and diet instruction followed by classes designed to equip the indi vidual with the skills to better control their diabetes. Participants must be referred by their physician and remain under the medical care of their physi cian for the duration of the program. method that only women can do is breastfeeding. Results from the Nurses’ Health Study showed that breast feeding has a protective effect on women at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes. According to the study, a woman can reduce her risk of developing Type 2 diabe tes by 15 percent for each year that she breastfeeds her child despite other risk factors she may have such as weight, diet, exercise and smoking. The study also showed Don’t miss mr .r informative (tsmffte Ptfustcm Paw* lawww&l Individuals with pre-diabetes can also learn how to prevent or delay their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes through Houston Healthcare’s Small Steps diabetes prevention program. The course provides at-risk individu als with the information they need to make appropriate lifestyle changes to reduce their risk for developing Type 2 diabetes. For more information on Houston Healthcare’s Outpatient Diabetes Management Program and to register for classes, call 923-9771 or visit www. hhc.org. that for each year a woman breastfed her baby without using supplementary formu COMPREHENSIVE HEARING HEALTHCARE || i Sheri Marshall M.S. Licensed Audiologist / HIGHLY DEDICATED AND EXPERIENCED STAFF S DOCTORS REFER TO US OFTEN -S COMBINED AUDIOLOGIST EXPERIENCE OF 50 YEARS Hilary Kate Ellwood, MD Board Certified, American Academy of Family Medicine Kimberley R. Ham, MD Board Certified, American Academy of Family Medicine Cynthia M. Jones, MD Board Certified, American Board of Family Medicine Gayatri Kamat, MD Board Certified, American Board of Internal Medicine HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL Hearing Associates, Inc. 302 Margie Drive, Warner Robins, GA la reduced her risk of devel oping diabetes even more. “These results illustrate the remarkable health ben efits a woman can reap from breastfeeding,” says Dr. Velie. “We know the tremen dous benefits breastfeed ing has for infants for their health and brain develop ment, but this study shows that breastfeeding can also offer the mother protection from serious, life-threaten ing diseases. Earlier studies have indicated the benefits of breastfeeding in reducing a woman’s risk of breast and ovarian cancer and now dia betes.” S FULL DIAGNOSTIC TESTING S HEARING AID MANAGEMENT “Better Hearing For Better Living" 478-953-2705 Mon. - Fri. 9-5 * Open 1 Sat per Mo. by Appt Barbara A. Matthews, MD Board Certified, American Board of Family Medicine Jodie Velie, MD Board Eligible, American Board of Family Practice Ferial Walid, MD Board Certified, American Board of Family Medicine m El \nncMc R_Prppard All. D. Doctor of AwHoiog} 150606* *0626