What are the links between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and diabetes?

Andrea Dunaif, MD, discusses the connections between diabetes and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and offers insight into ongoing research.

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We do understand the link between PCOS and diabetes and insulin and insulin resistance.

High levels of insulin causes both insulin resistance and PCOS.

Insulin resistance causes diabetes type 2.
High levels of Insulin has 2 main causes, 1 high carbohydrate diets and 2 a common genetic adaptation to famines. Being high insulin will make you fat and being fat is the adaptation to famines.

High insulin people must fast or at least cut out carbohydrates periodically to stop insulin resistance. Insulin resistance though caused by high insulin is also a cause of high insulin.

If a young woman misses periods PCOS is a likely cause and if she has PCOS she should know that she needs to reduce her carbohydrates to not get diabetes later in her life.