From India

I am 26 years old, female, newly married, and recently I was told I have developed diabetes with a level of 172 mg/dl [9.6 mmol/L]. Six months ago, I had a blood sugar of 95 mg/dl [5.3 mmol/L] and a month ago it was 140 mg/dl [7.8 mmol/L]. Both my parents both my husband’s parents have diabetes. I have several questions:

From these results can I take it that I have diabetes?
If do have diabetes and happen to get pregnant, what are the chances for the baby to get diabetes? Will a baby be born with the disease if the mother has diabetes?
How will it affect my marital life? What are the chances that diabetes will affect the potency rate? Will my partner suffer because of this? Will I lose interest and capability of having a sex relations with my husband in the longer run of life?

Please help me. I really need answers for all these as I am confused.

It sounds like you have a prominent family history for diabetes. type�2 diabetes, which frequently runs in families, is transmitted to offspring in 50% of cases if one parent has the condition. It is even higher if both parents have the disease.

The most important thing is to align yourself with a physician who will treat you appropriately. For instance, the sugars you have shown me, if fasting, are consistent with diabetes. Using the American Diabetes Association Classification and Diagnosis of Diabetes, two sugars in the fasting state on two different occasions greater than 126 mg/dl [7 mmol/L] is consistent with the diagnosis of diabetes.

If you plan to become pregnant, make sure you normalize your blood sugars beforehand. This minimizes risk to mother and child during pregnancy. In terms of sexual function, men have a history of erectile dysfunction with diabetes. Similar symptoms are difficult to describe in women, although there have been descriptions of difficulty with sex drive and function (which are less frequent than symptoms in men).

Although there are problems associated with having diabetes, the best insurance against future problems is good follow-up care. The problems are more likely to occur with longer duration and poor metabolic control. If you take care of yourself, normalize your sugars, and lead a healthy lifestyle, you can have a healthy and happy marriage and family. If possible, find a care provider who has experience and expertise in treating diabetes. That way, you will have access to the resources you need.

JTL