PCOS and Diabetes in Women

Diabetes can be linked to many different medical conditions, where you might have a 
condition like high blood pressure along with diabetes, especially in the case of type 2 
diabetes. For women, one of the most common links is between PCOS and diabetes. 
PCOS, or polycystic ovarian syndrome, causes cysts in your ovaries which can lead to 
many complications, including infertility. Here is more information about having PCOS 
and diabetes. 

About PCOS

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a very common condition affecting millions of 
women around the world. This condition can be caused by many factors, though both 
obesity and diabetes are frequently what lead to it. With PCOS, you might have 
infertility, irregular hormone levels, extended or missing periods, and cysts that grow in 
your ovaries. Some women don’t realize they have PCOS until they get weird symptoms 
like the inability to become pregnant or increased hair growth on the face and other 
parts of the body. 

Getting Type 2 Diabetes

PCOS is unfortunately a risk factor for getting type 2 diabetes. If you have PCOS, you 
are already genetically predisposed to the form of diabetes. The reason is because 
PCOS is often the result of insulin resistance in the body. You might have high levels of 
insulin in your blood, which is how it can lead to diabetes. Another factor that makes 
them closely related is that both can be caused by being overweight. If you are currently 
overweight with PCOS, the sooner you can get a handle on your diet and get to an 
average weight for your age and height, the better your chances for preventing or 
treating type 2 diabetes.

How to Manage Both

The good news here is that the treatments for both PCOS and type 2 diabetes are very 
similar. It often begins with getting to an average weight with diet and exercise. This 
means starting a workout program with both aerobic and cardio exercise, and weight 
training. You should switch to a healthy diet with fresh fruits and veggies, healthy fats, 
lean poultry and fish, low-fat dairy products, and plenty of whole grains.

You may also be asked to take medication for your diabetes, which can also help with 
the insulin resistance causing PCOS, such as with Metformin. Taking this one 
medication can treat both conditions at the same time. Keep monitoring your blood 
sugar and you should be able to treat both diabetes and PCOS.

