A new study has shed light on the safe prescription of hormonal contraception for diabetic women.

Published in the Diabetes Care journal, the pioneering research revealed that there was no evidence linking hormonal contraception consumption to heart attacks or strokes among diabetic women.

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This will change the perception of health care providers with regards to the prescription of hormonal birth control pills, vaginal rings, and transdermal patches. The said materials contain a hormone called estrogen that can induce blood clots, strokes or heart attacks. These health problems are higher in women suffering from diabetes.

The study conducted at the University of California Davis Health System examined the possible occurrence of cardiovascular problems in diabetic women. A database called Clinformatics was used to assess the data of 15 million insured individuals in the United States between 2002 to 2011. The researchers selected women with reproductive potentials that are suffering from type 1 and type 2 of the metabolic disease. A sum of 14,080 individuals underwent the evaluation process revealing that there is only 28 percent occurrence of heart attacks, strokes and blood clots. The data revealed that progestin-only injections lead to a slightly higher risk of clots than intrauterine contraceptives. Women using estrogen patch have the highest rates of thromboembolism, and it was lowest for those who use subdermal and intrauterine contraceptives.

The current drug prescription practice resulted in a very high percentage of women not using birth control methods because of the fear of developing cardiovascular events. The study said that 72 percent of the examined women lack prescription for any kind of contraception.

The lead author of the study, Sarah O'Brien, said that the findings were alarming "since women with diabetes become pregnant as often as other women." The associate professor from the Nationwide Children's Hospital said that "excellent options for women with diabetes who hope to avoid the teratogenic effects of hyperglycemia" include intrauterine and subdermal contraceptives.

The researchers hope to communicate with healthcare providers and change their perceptions and practice in prescribing hormonal contraception to diabetic women. Senior author Eleanor Schwartz said "clinicians need to get beyond the idea that birth control just means the pill.'"