One in five girls with type 2 diabetes would also suffer from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), revealed a new study.
A very common endocrine disease in women (5 to 10% are affected by it according to Health Insurance), PCOS is due to a hormonal imbalance of ovarian origin and responsible for abnormalities in women. Due to too much production of androgens – and in particular testosterone – women with PCOS may observe several types of abnormalities such as weight gain, irregular periods, hyperpilosity or more or less acne. less severe. If several studies have already shown the risk of developing other health problems such as diabetes with PCOS, this study demonstrates for the first time that the opposite situation is possible.
Published in the journal JAMA Network Open on February 15, 2022, a meta-analysis was conducted by researchers at McMaster University in Canada on 6 studies, involving a total of 470 girls with type 2 diabetes. Of these 470 girls, the prevalence of PCOS was 19.58%, a prevalence clearly higher than that observed in the general adolescent population (between 1.4 and 11.04%).
Insulin resistance in women with PCOS
Resistance to insulin – the hormone secreted by the pancreas and responsible for regulating blood glucose levels – has been noticed in 44-70% of women with PCOSthus more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.
“When the body does not respond well to insulin, blood sugar can build up in your bloodstream, eventually leading to type 2 diabetes. Many women with PCOS are also insulin resistant.“, notes the study.
The importance of early detection and treatment
“Health-related quality of life is significantly reduced in patients with PCOS, with body weight issues, menstrual irregularity and feelings of lack of control over health being significant contributors“, underlines the study.
It is therefore important that polycystic ovary syndrome is diagnosed early, in order to prevent possible health complications when left untreated. Because while teenage girls with PCOS have a higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, they may also suffer from psychiatric comorbiditiessuch as anxiety (18%), depression (16%) and attention deficit disorder (9%).
The study also emphasizes the need for further studies to define the impact of obesity and race on the prevalence of PCOS, to ensure the development of personalized treatments.
Sources:
- “Prevalence of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Patients With Pediatric Type 2 Diabetes”, JAMA Network Open, February 15, 2022
- Understanding Polycystic Ovary SyndromeAmeli.fr
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