Female and male bodies have significant differences. One of the most notable differences is related to the production of hormones. At times, a female body needs more insulin than males do. This article answers multiple questions associated with insulin requirements in women, from whether it’s safe for pregnant women to take insulin to strategies for managing insulin.
Why do women need different insulin doses than men?
Insulin resistance is slightly higher in women than in men. In the case of women suffering from diabetes, women have insulin resistance plus insulin deficiency. So if their resistance is higher or their deficiency is higher, either way, they will need more insulin. The dosages will be determined by the type of deficiency, whether it’s a basal or post-meal insulin deficiency. According to the type, the dosages are adjusted.
Yes, women’s overall dosing are higher than men. This is because women have a slightly higher amount of insulin resistance and oestrogen, which also increases insulin resistance. A lot of it also depends on their lifestyle, habits, and eating patterns.
How do weight, body composition, and metabolism affect women’s insulin needs?
Women go through a lot of hormonal transitions every month, like periods. They have high hormone fluctuations. There are a lot of psychologically stressful factors, too. For these reasons, a woman’s body gets tired far more easily than men. This is in consideration of the health status of people who don’t work out. There is no doubt that many women have more stamina and are fitter than an average male. Yet, these factors do contribute to the requirement for insulin dosage.
During periods, a woman feels more tired, her PMS phase, and her hormonal level get low. Dosage also gets affected by her energy level, food intake, climate, and other factors.
How do menstrual hormonal fluctuations impact insulin sensitivity?
When hormonal levels fluctuate, sugar levels also fluctuate. Oestrogen contributes to increasing insulin resistance. However, when one feels low, they may tend to eat more dopamine-inducing foods like chocolate, wafers, chips, and others. Diabetic patients are no exception to this; consumption of sweet foodstuffs will obviously spike the sugar level. To avoid such sudden increases in sugar levels, having fibre- and protein-rich foods before eating something sweet, may help. Insulin requirements can also increase when someone is in stress, tension, or a bad mood. Someone who’s on insulin must always be well hydrated.
How does pregnancy affect insulin sensitivity and requirements?
Pregnancy is an insulin resistance state; insulin resistance goes notably high at that stage. A woman’s body generally produces more insulin during pregnancy to keep pace with the requirement. There are two types of diabetes in pregnancy. One is pregnancy-induced diabetes, which is known as gestational diabetes mellitus; the other is previously existing diabetes. For diabetic women who want to conceive, we recommend controlling sugar levels before proceeding with it. During the entire duration of pregnancy, regular monitoring of sugar levels also becomes extremely important.
In cases of diabetes developed during pregnancy that previously did not exist, insulin dosages need to be increased until the last third trimester. After delivery, the dose might come down. However, one must come up regularly until the end of breastfeeding and manage insulin doses. Once the patient stops breastfeeding, we can take a call on medicines and lifestyle.
Does increased insulin during and after pregnancy affect the baby?
No, insulin is allowed during pregnancy because it does not cross the placental barrier. It does not reach the baby because insulin is something that our body produces. When our body produces less insulin, that is when someone becomes diabetic. In such cases, we, the doctors, need to give them insulin from outside. Insulin that is available in the market is designed exactly like the way human insulin works. For these reasons, it is safe for the baby if the mother is taking insulin during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
How to manage insulin needs during menopause hormonal fluctuations?
Menopause is a very difficult time for women. Due to an extreme hormonal imbalance, sometimes understanding what is going on becomes extremely difficult. Incorporating weight training from a very young age is the best way to keep such situations in moderation. Weight training and strength training will help to maintain relatively stable health and blood sugar management. A trained body will be resistant to extreme effects during menopause; it will be in a far healthier state than others. Our body is like a magical chemical factory, and weight training can have several positive outcomes. Many patients no longer need depression medications.
Why are frequent blood glucose checks crucial for women on insulin?
Women need more frequent blood glucose checks than men only during periods. During periods, blood sugar, hormones, and mood all fluctuate a lot. Sometimes they don’t feel like eating due to the pain. It’s essential to eat something after taking insulin, even if it’s something minimal.
How can women effectively communicate hormonal fluctuations to their healthcare providers?
One needs to be honest with their doctors. Most people, when they come to the clinic, don’t want to admit that they are not feeling great. They pretend to be fine. It’s through indirect questions like how well they’re eating and sleeping, are they getting stressed, or are they having panic attacks that we analyse their situation. So basically, if someone is feeling even the slightest problem, they should visit their doctor and be honest with them. It’s only when we get to know the problem properly that we are able to recommend the correct cure.
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