Diabetes and Infertility: How Blood Sugar Affects Conception

What is the impact of diabetes on fertility?

High blood sugars are often ignored by many individuals. However, it is really important to understand how long-term high blood sugar can affect fertility of both males and females. There are several fertility problems caused by diabetes such as poor egg quality, low sperm count, difficulty conceiving or irregular periods. Besides affecting fertility diabetes can cause complications during pregnancy- leading to a high risk pregnancy or even causing congenital abnormalities in babies.

Blood sugar and reproductive health

Poorly controlled blood sugar may contribute to fertility problems. If you are a pre-diabetic or have a strong family history of diabetes our doctors at Njinsky IVF & Fertility Clinic, the top IVF center in Lahore, advise you to take simple steps or make some modifications in your lifestyle to prevent diabetes in the future. The precautionary methods include weight management, regular exercise, healthy eating habits and regular check-ups.

The mechanism behind diabetes and infertility

Diabetes-related fertility complications are caused as high blood sugars damage hormones, blood vessels and nerves. Insulin resistance in the body leads to high blood sugars. Excessive insulin results in increasing male hormone ( testosterone) in females resulting in anovulation and irregular periods. High blood sugars cause oxidative stress and cellular damage in the eggs of females resulting in poor egg quality decreasing the chances of fertilisation. Due to the damage to small blood vessels the blood supply to the endometrium reduces hence making implantation difficult therefore lower chances of conception.

In males high blood sugar damages sperm and reduces movement, as well as causes DNA fragmentation. Due to damage to nerves and blood vessels many men with long-standing diabetes may develop erectile dysfunction and problems with ejaculation.

Managing Infertility with diabetes

Infertility treatment for diabetes initially begins with control on diet, regular workouts and weight management plans. At Njinsky IVF & Fertility Clinic, our fertility experts believe in portion control and a personalised diet plan for controlling blood sugar is often recommended. However, if chronic diabetes has already caused the damage we provide treatment according to the problem.

Diabetes is treated with oral or injectable anti-glycemic drugs, Once blood sugar levels are controlled female infertility treatment may require hormonal therapy that often treats ovulatory disorders and irregular periods. If fertility does not improve despite good glycemic and natural conception is not possible, Njinsky is equipped with advanced technology for Assisted Reproductive techniques such as IVF, IUI and ICSI.

Male Infertility treatment also involves controlling blood sugar with oral or injectable anti-glycemic drugs. This may improve the sperm quality. Our andrologist provides personalised Infertility treatment plans for males to treat erectile dysfunction and ejaculation problems.