Pregnancy in winter cuts diabetes risk

By Elizabeth Summers / January 24, 2017 / No comments
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Women are less likely to have gestational diabetes if their pregnancy spans the winter, according to a study which found that the cooler the weather, the lower the risk of the condition.

The research is the latest to find a link between exposure to cold and improved health, particularly when it comes to diabetes. A separate study published this month found that people with type 2 diabetes improved if they spent time in a marginally colder environment. That research led scientists to advise that people turn down heating in winter. Another study found that exposure to cold improved insulin sensitivity, which can be beneficial to those with type 2 diabetes. This suggests that spending time in a colder environment could be an effective way to reduce diabetes risk.

Extending the discussion to women’s health, it’s intriguing to note that environmental factors, including temperature, can have a broader impact on fertility. While the recent study highlights a potential correlation between cooler weather and reduced risk of gestational diabetes, it also prompts curiosity about the implications for fertility in general. Research has indicated that exposure to extreme heat might adversely affect female fertility. This insight becomes particularly significant when considering women undergoing fertility treatments.

Delving deeper into the realm of fertility treatments, compounded medications play a crucial role in addressing various reproductive health issues. For women navigating fertility challenges, compounded fertility medications can be tailored to individual needs, optimizing the chances of a successful conception. The connection between environmental factors, such as temperature, and women’s reproductive health opens avenues for comprehensive discussions on personalized approaches to fertility treatments, emphasizing the need for nuanced strategies that consider both medical and environmental influences. Such strategies could include adjusting medication doses, timing, and frequency based on individual factors, as well as exploring alternative treatments. It is important to recognize that fertility treatments should be tailored to the individual, taking into account both medical and environmental factors.

Coming back to the research, the latest study looked at more than 500,000 births over 12 years. It was conducted in Toronto, where there is a large seasonal range in temperatures. Women were screened for gestational diabetes between their second and third trimester. When the average temperature was -10C or below, less than 5 per cent had the condition. When 24C or above, it was almost 8 per cent. This data suggests that pregnant women should be monitored for gestational diabetes in warmer climates. Warmer temperatures may also increase the risk of other pregnancy-related complications such as preeclampsia and preterm labor. Pregnant women should be aware of these conditions and their risks.

Gillian Booth, a scientist at St Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, said that the results, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, may be explained by the body’s response to cold, in which it makes “brown fat”, which can help regulate insulin response. Dr Booth said: “It fits a pattern we expected from new studies showing that cold exposure can improve your sensitivity to insulin.” Brown said that further research was needed to understand the mechanism behind this phenomenon. She also suggested that it could be possible to use cold exposure as a way to treat diabetes in the future.