Diabetes Toll on Women is Tragically Dramatic

Nov. 1, 2011 - PRLog -- Women generally live longer than men. However, for women suffering from diabetes this statistic does not apply. The physical effects that diabetes takes on a woman's  body is staggering, and after years of studies a more complete picture is forming about women and diabetes.

   “Women generally live longer than men because of their lower rates of heart disease but when a woman has diabetes her risk of heart disease is substantially higher than a woman without diabetes,” said Elizabeth Huggins, Registered Dietitian and Diabetes Education Coordinator at Hilton Head Hospital. Indeed, heart disease and heart attacks become a larger issue for diabetic women because women can have symptoms which go undetected.

   November is “Diabetes Awareness Month”-- a time when Americans are reminded to pay closer attention to this serious disorder where the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin, and as a result will have high blood sugar.

   Both Hilton Head Hospital and Coastal Carolina Hospital will be hosting a special half day event called Diabetes University on Saturday, November 12, 2011 for all people affected by diabetes.

   Huggins said Diabetes University is a free, ½ day event that will provide valuable education for individuals with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and anyone interested in knowing more about diabetes.  “Our goal is to make sure area residents have access to information that will help them lead healthier lives,” she explained.

   Huggins points out that “ as some women age, their bodies produce less insulin and use it less efficiently, and if you pair these factors with a sedentary lifestyle and poor food choices, their risks increases.”

   With women living longer than men, it is no surprise that Huggins has been seeing more female patients in her diabetes Education Program than ever.  She noted that diabetes is among the top 10 leading causes of death in both Beaufort County and Jasper County.

   The connection between diabetes and heart attacks in women have come under increased investigation in recent years. Symptoms common for both men and women that are easily identified for heart attacks include chest pain and pressure, pain in the upper body and shortness of breath. However, symptoms that diabetes prone women may have when experiencing a heart attack include fatigue, nausea/vomiting, dizziness and sleep problems. Such symptoms are often shrugged off and/or attributed to other issues. Yet, they can lead to serious complications or death according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Diseases.

   In addition to heart disease, women who have diabetes also stand an increased chance of suffering from depression. Women with diabetes are twice as likely as men to suffer from depression according to a 2010 study in Archives of Internal Medicine. Diabetes also causes another complication that is worse for women than men -- kidney disease. Similar to heart disease, kidney disease usually affects men more than women. But, a woman with diabetes is just as likely as a man to get the disease.

   According to the Center for Disease Control & Prevention “of the 25.8 million people with diabetes in the United States, about half (12.6 million) are women.
Minority racial and ethnic groups are the hardest hit by type 2 diabetes; the prevalence is significantly higher among black, Hispanic, American Indian, and Asian Pacific Islander women than among white women.

   The American Diabetes Association encourages women  to be  educated on the unique effect that diabetes can have on their body. Beyond personal knowledge women need to discuss the added side effects with their doctors to make sure everyone is knowledgeable about how women differ from men with diabetes.

   For more information or to register for Diabetes University, call 877-582-2737.  Select “1” for Coastal Carolina Hospital or “2” for Hilton Head Hospital. Register by Monday, November 7th .

   Hilton Head Hospital’s program will be held at First Presbyterian Church, 540 William Hilton Parkway.  Endocrinologist Dr. Vonda Calcutt; Ophthalmologist Dr. Kenneth Farr; and Certified Diabetes Education, Certified Insulin Pump Trainer and Registered Dietitians Elizabeth Huggins and Erin Rayfield will present topics related to understanding and managing diabetes.

   Coastal Carolina Hospital’s program will be held at Ridgeland School Complex (Jasper County) 250 Jaguar Bus Loop, Located off of Old Grays Highway.  Family Physician Bert Garrett, MD, FAACP and Ophthalmologist Mark Goulas, MD will present topics related to understanding and managing diabetes.   Cassandra Campbell and Cynthia Robino and will give first-hand accounts of how they manage the stress of diabetes, deal with the effects of diabetes on their family and work life, and live full, active lives.