Diabetes increases the risk of heart disease (the most common diabetes complication) by around four times in women but only about two times in men, and women have worse outcomes after a heart attack. Women are also at complex risk of additional diabetes-related complications such as blindness, kidney disease, and depression. When you have diabetes, vaginal dryness can occur a lot. High blood sugars can grounds damage to your blood vessels in your vagina. This leads to a lack of lubrication. As a result, sex can be same painful. Type 1 diabetes can develop at any age, though it often appears throughout childhood or adolescence. Type 2 diabetes, the more common type, can grow at some age, though it's more common in people older than 40. Poor control of diabetes during pregnancy rises the chances for birth defects and other problems for the pregnancy. It can also cause severe complications for the woman. Proper health care earlier and during pregnancy can help prevent birth defects and other health problems.

Dr. Caroline Niederman is an educator, speaker, entrepreneur, and equine veterinarian-turned-consultant changing the narrative for people who fall outside the lines of conventional medical diagnosis and treatments for certain chronic long-term conditions. She uses her medical background, journey with a chronic invisible illness and the Disney Cinderella story to bring to life the stop and start journey these patients are on so they can be seen and outlines a path for physicians and patients to partner for effective long term care once their respective clocks are coordinated.