Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic metabolic condition where the body can no longer maintain normal blood sugar levels despite producing insulin, and women with PCOS face more than a 50% lifetime risk of developing it—nearly four times higher than women without PCOS. The pathway from PCOS to type 2 diabetes follows the progression of insulin resistance through prediabetes, with some women transitioning from normal glucose tolerance to diabetes in just a few years. Early and consistent screening through oral glucose tolerance tests (more sensitive than fasting glucose or HbA1c alone for women with PCOS), combined with proactive insulin-sensitizing strategies, offers the best chance of prevention.