Diabetes in woman

Diabetes and Women | CDC

Women with diabetes have more to manage. Stay on track by checking your blood sugar often, eating healthy food, and being active so you can be your healthiest and feel your best.

How is diabetes different for women than it is for men? Diabetes increases the risk of heart disease (the most common diabetes complication) by about four times in women but only about two times in men, and women have worse outcomes after a heart attack. Women are also at higher risk of other diabetes-related complications such as blindness, kidney disease, and depression.

Not only is diabetes different for women, it’s different among women—African American, Hispanic/Latina, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Asian/Pacific Islander women are more likely to have diabetes than white women.

How you manage diabetes may need to change over time depending on what’s happening in your life. Here’s what to expect and what you can do to stay on track.

Yeast and Urinary Tract Infections

Many women will get a vaginal yeast infection at some point, but women with diabetes are at higher risk especially if their blood sugar levels are high.

More than 50% of women will get a urinary tract infection (UTI) in their lifetime, and your risk may be higher if you have diabetes. Causes include high blood sugar levels and poor circulation (which reduces your body’s ability to fight infections). Also, some women have bladders that don’t empty all the way because of diabetes, creating a perfect environment for bacteria to grow.

What You Can Do: To prevent yeast infections and UTIs, keep your blood sugar levels as close to your target range as possible. Other ways to prevent UTIs: drink lots of water, wear cotton underwear, and urinate often instead of waiting until your bladder is full.

Menstrual Cycle

Changes in hormone levels right before and during your period can make blood sugar levels hard to predict. You may also have longer or heavier periods, and food cravings can make managing diabetes harder. You may notice a pattern over time, or you may find that every period is different.

What You Can Do: Check your blood sugar often and keep track of the results to see if there’s a pattern. If you use insulin, you might need to take more in the days before your period. Talk to your doctor about changing your dosage if needed. Being active on most days, eating healthy food in the right amounts, and getting enough sleep can all help too.

Sex

Diabetes can lower your interest in sex and your ability to enjoy it. For some women, vaginal dryness can make intercourse uncomfortable or even painful. Causes can include nerve damage, reduced blood flow, medications, and hormonal changes, including those during pregnancy or menopause.

What You Can Do: Be sure to talk to your doctor if you’re having any sexual issues. He or she can let you know your options, from using vaginal lubricants to doing exercises that can increase sexual response.

Birth Control

It’s important to use birth control if you don’t want to become pregnant or if you want to wait until your blood sugar levels are in your target range, since high blood sugar can cause problems during pregnancy for you and your baby. There are many types of birth control methods, including intrauterine devices (IUDs), implants, injections, pills, patches, vaginal rings, and barrier methods like condoms and diaphragms. Choosing the right option for you will depend on whether you have any other medical conditions, current medicines you take, and other factors.

What You Can Do: Talk with your doctor about all your birth control options and risks. Continue checking your blood sugar, track the results, and let your doctor know if your levels go up.

Sometimes having high blood sugar can feel like a test you didn’t pass. But numbers are just numbers. Think of them instead as information. Did a certain food or activity make your levels go up or down? Armed with that knowledge, you can make adjustments and get closer to your target range more often.

You can’t go wrong with the basics: check your blood sugar regularly, eat healthy food, and be active on most days.

Getting Pregnant

If you know you want to have a baby, planning ahead is really important. Diabetes can make it harder to get pregnant, and high blood sugar can increase your risk for:

• Preeclampsia (high blood pressure)
• Delivery by cesarean section (C-section)
• Miscarriage or stillbirth

A baby’s organs form during the first 2 months of pregnancy, and high blood sugar during that time can cause birth defects. High blood sugar during pregnancy can also increase the chance that your baby could:

• Be born too early
• Weigh too much (making delivery harder)
• Have breathing problems or low blood sugar right after birth

What You Can Do: Work with your health care team to get your blood sugar levels in your target range and establish good habits such as eating healthy and being active. Your blood sugar levels can change quickly, so check them often and adjust your food, activity, and medicine as needed with guidance from your doctor.

During Pregnancy

Gestational diabetes—high blood sugar during pregnancy—can develop in women who don’t already have diabetes. It affects 2% to 10% of pregnancies in the United States every year. Any woman can have gestational diabetes, but some are at higher risk, including those who are overweight or have obesity, are more than 25 years old, or have a family history of type 2 diabetes. Careful management is important to ensure a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby.

What You Can Do: If you’re diagnosed with gestational diabetes, your doctor will work with you to create a treatment plan to help keep your blood sugar in your target range by eating healthy food in the right amounts and being active most days of the week. You may need diabetes medicine or insulin shots to keep you and your baby healthy.

Gestational diabetes usually goes away after your baby is born. However, about 50% of women with gestational diabetes go on to develop type 2 diabetes. It’s important to get tested for diabetes 4 to 12 weeks after delivery and continue to get tested every 1 to 3 years to make sure your blood sugar levels are in a healthy range. Ask your doctor about participating in the CDC-led National Diabetes Prevention Program, which includes a lifestyle change program scientifically proven to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes in people at risk.

Menopause

After menopause, your body makes less estrogen, which can cause unpredictable ups and downs in blood sugar. You may gain weight, which increases your need for insulin or other diabetes medicines. Hot flashes and night sweats may disrupt your sleep, making managing blood sugar harder. This is also a time when sexual problems can occur, such as vaginal dryness or nerve damage.

What You Can Do: Ask your doctor about ways you can manage menopause symptoms. If your blood sugar levels have changed, you may need to change the dosage of any diabetes medicines you’re taking. Heart disease risk goes up after menopause, so make heart-healthy choices that also help manage your diabetes, such as eating healthy food and being active.

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Diabetes | Office on Women's Health

Diabetes is a disease in which blood sugar (glucose) levels in your body are too high. Diabetes can cause serious health problems, including heart attack or stroke, blindness, problems during pregnancy, and kidney failure. About 15 million women in the United States have diabetes, or about 1 in every 9 adult women.¹

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease caused by high levels of blood sugar (glucose) in your body. This can happen when your body does not make insulin or does not use insulin correctly.

Insulin is a hormone made in the pancreas, an organ near your stomach. Insulin helps the glucose from food get into your body's cells for energy. If your body does not make enough insulin, or your body does not use the insulin correctly, the glucose stays and builds up in your blood.

Over time, this extra glucose can lead to prediabetes or diabetes. Diabetes puts you at risk for other serious and life-threatening health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, blindness, and kidney damage.

What are the different types of diabetes?

The three main types of diabetes are:

• Type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, meaning the body's immune (defense) system attacks and destroys the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. If you have type 1 diabetes, your body does not make insulin, so you must take insulin every day.
• Type 2 diabetes. This is the most common type of diabetes. You can get type 2 diabetes at any age, even during childhood. With type 2 diabetes, your body does not make enough insulin or is not able to use its own insulin correctly. When this happens, blood glucose levels rise.
• Gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that happens only during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes can cause health problems for the baby and the mother if not controlled. Although gestational diabetes goes away after your baby is born, having diabetes during pregnancy raises your risk for type 2 diabetes later on.² Learn more about gestational diabetes at the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse.

Am I at risk for diabetes?

A risk factor is something that puts you at a higher risk for a disease compared to the average person.

Risk factors for type 1 diabetes in women and girls include:

• Age: It often develops in childhood.
• Family health history: Having a parent or brother or sister with type 1 diabetes
• Certain viral infections or illnesses, such as coxsackie virus B (a common cause of hand, foot, and mouth disease), rotavirus (also called stomach flu), and mumps³
• Where you live: It is more common in people who live in colder climates.

Risk factors for type 2 diabetes in women and girls include:⁴

• Overweight or obesity: Body mass index (BMI) of 25 or higher for adults. Find out your BMI. Children and teens weighing above the 85th percentile based on their BMI are at risk for type 2 diabetes. Find BMI charts for children and teens.
• Older age: 45 or older. After menopause, women are at higher risk for weight gain, especially more weight around the waist, which raises the risk for type 2 diabetes.
• Family health history: Having a mother, father, brother, or sister with diabetes
• Race/ethnicity: Family background of African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Hispanic, Asian-American, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
• Having a baby that weighed 9 pounds or more at birth
• Having diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes)
• High blood pressure: Taking medicine for high blood pressure or having a blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg or higher. (Both numbers are important. If one or both numbers are usually high, you have high blood pressure.)
• High cholesterol: HDL cholesterol of 35 mg/dL or lower and triglycerides of 250 mg/dL or higher
• Lack of physical activity: Women who are active less than three times a week
• Having polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Personal history of heart disease or stroke

If you have any of these risk factors, talk to your doctor about ways to lower your risk for diabetes. You can also take the Diabetes Risk Test and talk about the results with your doctor.

Who gets diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes usually develops in children and young adults, but it can happen at any age.⁵ It is more common in non-Hispanic whites and non-Hispanic blacks than in Hispanic populations.⁶ About 5% of people with diabetes have type 1 diabetes.¹ If you have a parent or sibling with the disease you may be more likely to develop type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is more common in adults, especially in people who are 45 and older, have a family history of diabetes, or have overweight or obesity. About 90–95% of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is becoming more common in children and teens, which may be because more of them have overweight and obesity.^7,8,9

Do women of color need to worry about diabetes?

Yes. It is more common for certain racial and ethnic groups to have diabetes. This affects women who are:

• American Indian/Alaska Native. American Indian/Alaska Native women have the highest rate of diabetes among all racial and ethnic groups in the United States. It is more than twice as common for American Indian/Alaska Native women to be diagnosed with diabetes compared to white women. But rates of diabetes are different in different regions of the United States. Rates are lowest in Alaska Native people and highest in people who are American Indian and live in certain areas of the Southwest. ¹
• Black. Diabetes is almost twice as common in non-Hispanic black women compared to non-Hispanic white women.¹
• Hispanic. It is more common for Hispanic women than non-Hispanic white women to be diagnosed with diabetes. Among Hispanic women in the United States, it may be more or less common for women of different heritage groups to be diagnosed with diabetes.¹ For example, Mexican-American women have almost twice the rate of diabetes diagnosis compared to white women. But Cuban-American women have a lower rate compared to white women.¹
• Asian. Diabetes is the fifth-leading cause of death for Asian or Pacific Islander women in the United States.¹⁰ However, it may be more or less common for women of different Asian heritage groups to be diagnosed with diabetes. One in every 33 Chinese-American women is diagnosed with diabetes compared to 1 in every 10 Asian Indian women. ¹ It is also more common for Asian women to develop gestational diabetes compared to white women.¹¹

Learn more about risk factors for diabetes.

How does diabetes affect women differently than men?

Diabetes affects women and men in almost equal numbers. However, diabetes affects women differently than men.

Compared with men with diabetes, women with diabetes have:¹²

• A higher risk for heart disease. Heart disease is the most common complication of diabetes. Learn more about the link between heart disease and stroke and diabetes in women
• Lower survival rates and a poorer quality of life after heart attack
• A higher risk for blindness
• A higher risk for depression. Depression, which affects twice as many women as men, also raises the risk for diabetes in women.¹³

Does diabetes raise my risk for other health problems?

Yes. The longer you have type 2 diabetes, the higher your risk for developing serious medical problems from diabetes. Also, if you smoke and have diabetes, you are even more likely to develop serious medical problems from diabetes, compared with people who have diabetes and do not smoke.¹⁴

The extra glucose in the blood that leads to diabetes can damage your nerves and blood vessels. Nerve damage from diabetes can lead to pain or a permanent loss of feeling in your hands, feet, and other parts of your body.¹⁵

Blood vessel damage from diabetes can also lead to:

• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Blindness
• Kidney failure
• Leg or foot amputation
• Hearing loss

Women with diabetes are also at higher risk for:  

• Problems getting pregnant
• Problems during pregnancy, including possible health problems for you and your baby
• Repeated urinary and vaginal infections

What causes diabetes?

Researchers do not know the exact causes of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Researchers do know that inheriting certain genes from your family can raise your risk for developing diabetes. Obesity is also a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Smoking can also cause type 2 diabetes. And the more you smoke the higher your risk for type 2 diabetes and other serious health problems if you already have diabetes.¹⁶

Weight loss can help control type 2 diabetes so that you are healthier. Quitting smoking can also help you control your blood sugar levels. Being a healthy weight and not smoking can help all women be healthier.

But, obesity and smoking do not always cause diabetes. Some women who are overweight or obese or smoke never develop diabetes. Also, women who are a normal weight or only slightly overweight can develop diabetes if they have other risk factors, such as a family history of diabetes. 

What are the signs and symptoms of diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes symptoms are usually more severe and may develop suddenly.

Type 2 diabetes may not cause any signs or symptoms at first. Symptoms can develop slowly over time. You may not notice them right away.

Common signs and symptoms of type 1 and type 2 diabetes include:

• Feeling more tired than usual
• Extreme thirst
• Urinating more than usual
• Blurry vision
• Feeling hungrier than usual
• Losing weight without trying
• Sores that are slow to heal
• Dry, itchy skin
• Tingling in the hands or feet
• More infections, such as urinary tract infections and vaginal yeast infections, than usual

Do I need to be tested for diabetes?

Maybe. You should be tested for diabetes if you are between 40 and 70 years old and are overweight or obese. Your doctor may recommend testing earlier than age 40 if you also have other risk factors for diabetes. Also, talk to your doctor about diabetes testing if you have signs or symptoms of diabetes. Your doctor will use a blood test to see if you have diabetes.

If the testing shows that your blood sugar levels are high, you can begin making healthy changes to your eating habits and getting more physical activity to help prevent diabetes.

What is prediabetes?

Prediabetes means your blood sugar (glucose) level is higher than normal, but it is lower than the diabetes range. It also means you are at higher risk of getting type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

As many as 27 million American women have prediabetes.¹⁷ If you have prediabetes, you can make healthy changes, such as doing some type of physical activity on most days, to lower your risk of getting diabetes and return to normal blood sugar levels. Losing 7% of your body weight (or 14 pounds if you weigh 200 pounds) can lower your risk for type 2 diabetes by more than half. If you have prediabetes, get your blood glucose checked every year by a doctor or nurse.⁴

How is diabetes treated?

Diabetes treatment includes managing your blood sugar levels to control your symptoms. You can help control your blood sugar levels by eating healthy and getting regular physical activity.

With type 1 diabetes, you also will need to take insulin through shots or an insulin pump. Insulin cannot be taken as a pill.

Type 2 diabetes treatment also may include taking medicine to control your blood sugar. Over time, people with type 2 diabetes make less and less of their own insulin. This may mean that you will need to increase your medicines or start taking insulin shots to keep your diabetes in control.

Learn more about controlling diabetes at the National Diabetes Education Program website.

Is there anything I can do to prevent type 1 diabetes?

Researchers do not know how to prevent type 1 diabetes. Researchers are still looking for ways to prevent type 1 diabetes in women and girls by studying their close relatives who have diabetes.

Is there anything I can do to prevent type 2 diabetes?

Yes. Many studies, including the large Diabetes Prevention Program study, have proven that you can prevent diabetes by losing weight. Weight loss through healthy eating and more physical activity improves the way your body uses insulin and glucose.

• Weight loss. Obesity is a leading risk factor for diabetes. Calculate your BMI to see whether you’re at a healthy weight. If you’re overweight or obese, start making small changes to your eating habits and get more physical activity. Even a small amount of weight loss (7%, or about 14 pounds for a 200-pound woman) can delay or even prevent type 2 diabetes.
• Eating healthy. Choose vegetables, whole grains (such as whole wheat or rye bread, whole grain cereal, or brown rice), beans, and fruit. Read food labels to help you choose foods low in saturated fat, trans fat, and sodium. Limit processed foods and sugary foods and drinks.
• Getting active. Aim for 30 minutes of physical activity most days of the week and limit the amount of time you spend sitting.

Learn how to eat healthier and get more physical activity.

Is it safe for women with diabetes to get pregnant?

Yes. If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, you can have a healthy pregnancy. If you have diabetes and you want to have a baby, you need to plan ahead, before you get pregnant.

Talk to your doctor before you get pregnant. He or she can talk to you about steps you can take to keep your baby healthy. This may include a diabetes education program to help you better understand your diabetes and how to control it during pregnancy.

Did we answer your question about diabetes?

For more information about diabetes, call the OWH Helpline at 1-800-994-9662 or contact the following organizations:

• National Diabetes Education Program, CDC, HHS 
  Phone Number: 800-232-4636
• National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, NIDDK, NIH, HHS 
  Phone Number: 800-860-8747
• American Diabetes Association 
  Phone Number: 800-342-2383

Sources

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2017). National diabetes statistics report, 2017 (PDF, 1.4 MB).
2. Coustan, D. R. (Ed). (2013). Medical management of pregnancy complicated by diabetes. 5th edition. Alexandria, VA: American Diabetes Association.
3. Filippi, C. M., & von Herrath, M. G. (2008). Viral trigger for type 1 diabetes. Diabetes, 57(11), 2863–2871.
4. American Diabetes Association. (2013). Standards of medical care in diabetes — 2013. Diabetes Care, 36(Suppl. 1), S11–66.
5. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (NIDDK). (2017). Type 1 diabetes.
6. Menke, A., Orchard, T. J., Imperatore, G., Bullard, K. M., Mayer-Davis, E., & Cowie, C. C. (2013). The prevalence of type 1 diabetes in the United States. Epidemiology, 24(5), 773–774.
7. Pulgaron, E. R., & Delamater, A. M. (2014). Obesity and type 2 diabetes in children: Epidemiology and treatment. Current Diabetes Reports, 14(8), 508.
8. Dabelea, D., Mayer-Davis, E. J., Saydah, S., Imperatore, G., Linder, B., Divers, J., … Hamman, R. F., for the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study. (2014). Prevalence of type 1 and type 2 diabetes among children and adolescents from 2001 to 2009. JAMA, 311(17), 1778–1786.
9. Mayer-Davis, E. J., Lawrence, J. M., Dabelea, D., Divers, J., Ison, S., Dolan, L., … Wagenknecht, L., for the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study. (2017). Incidence trends of type 1 and type 2 diabetes among youths, 2002-2012. New England Journal of Medicine, 376(15), 1419–1429.
10. CDC. (2018). Leading causes of death in females, 2015 (current listing).
11. Blatt, A. J., Nakamoto, J. M., & Kaufman, H. W. (2011). Gaps in diabetes screening during pregnancy and postpartum. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 117, 61–68.
12. American Diabetes Association. (n.d.). Depression.
13. Pan, A., Lucas, M., Sun, Q., van Dam, R., Franco, O., Manson, J., …  Hu, F. (2010). Bidirectional association between depression and type 2 diabetes mellitus in women. JAMA Internal Medicine, 170(21), 1884–1891.
14. Eliasson, B. (2003). Cigarette smoking and diabetes. Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases, 45(5), 405–413.
15. NIDDK. (2013). Diabetic neuropathies: The nerve damage of diabetes.
16. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2014). The health consequences of smoking—50 years of progress: A report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 537–545.
17. CDC. (2013). Women at high risk for diabetes: Physical activity, healthy eating, and weight loss (PDF, 865 KB).

The Office on Women's Health is grateful for the medical review by:

• Nilka Rios Burrows, M. P.H., MT (ASCP), Epidemiologist, Division of Diabetes Translation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Sue Penckofer, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.A.N., Professor and Faculty Scholar, School of Nursing, Loyola University Chicago, Health Sciences Campus
• Mary Ann Emaneule, M.D., Professor, School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago
• Lauretta Quinn, Ph.D., R.N., A.P.N., C.D.E., F.A.A.N., Associate Professor, College of Nursing, University of Illinois
• Joanne Kouba, Ph.D., R.D.N., Associate Professor and Director, Dietetic Education Programs, School of Nursing, Loyola University Chicago
• Patricia Sheean, Ph.D., R.D.N., Research Associate, School of Nursing, Loyola University Chicago

All material contained on these pages are free of copyright restrictions and maybe copied, reproduced, or duplicated without permission of the Office on Women’s Health in the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. Citation of the source is appreciated.

Page last updated: May 31, 2022

first signs – MyGenetics Blog

An endocrine-type disease characterized by a complete deficiency of insulin is called diabetes mellitus. An increase in the production of glucose in the blood entails a lot of problems leading to death. Symptoms of high blood sugar in women are important to identify in the early stages. Then it becomes possible to start treatment on time and avoid complications.

What symptoms will indicate the beginning of the development of this disease? We list the main issues that you should pay attention to: nine0003

1. Severe weight loss for no apparent reason. This is due to a violation of the proper metabolism in the body.
2. Gaining excess weight with a normal diet. A similar case may be with other serious deviations.
3. Constant feeling of thirst. A person drinks a lot of water, but cannot get rid of dry mouth.
4. Hunger. Despite regular meals, the body cannot absorb nutrients and requires a snack even immediately after eating. nine0008
5. Increased urge to urinate. Thus, the body tries to cope with excess glucose.
6. Pathology of vision, retinal separation and blurred image before the eyes.
7. Mycosis and thrush, not amenable to treatment.

Causes of diabetes in women

The main reason for the development of the disease is a genetic predisposition. If the parents suffered from high blood sugar, then the child will inherit this unpleasant pathology. You can identify the presence of genes with a deviation marker using DNA analysis. Testing in our lab can help you determine if you're at risk for insulin deficiency. This will make it possible to start therapy as early as possible and stop the development of the disease. nine0003

There are other factors that provoke diabetes disease:

• Being overweight. Excessive fat mass disrupts metabolism and acts as a guardian of possible pathologies.
• Infectious pathologies.
• Stress and overwork. This factor is especially dangerous for women after 30.
• Bad habits, especially smoking. Resins contaminate blood vessels and interfere with the normal functioning of the circulatory system. nine0008

Early signs of diabetes in women

The peculiarity of this disease is that external signs may not appear for several years after the onset of development. This leads to the fact that the pathology has time to cause significant harm to the body before treatment is started. It is important for women to be able to identify subtle distress signals of the body.

You should definitely consult a doctor if you find yourself in the following features:

• Decreased performance and fatigue. Moreover, this condition does not go away even after a good rest.
• Attacks of drowsiness and lethargy, regularly occurring after eating.
• Persistent dry mouth. This is the main and almost the first sign of high sugar in women. Can't quench your thirst no matter how much you drink? You need to see a doctor urgently.
• Rapid weight loss in which you are constantly hungry and can eat quite a lot. nine0008
• Itching and pustules on the skin, sores, the origin of which you cannot explain.

How do you know if you have diabetes?

Pathology is divided into two types. The first is called the insulin-dependent stage. It is typical for people over 30 years old. At this age, the disease develops very quickly and symptoms appear almost instantly. The presence of elevated glucose levels gives:

• Sudden weight loss and associated weakness. nine0008
• Constant desire to drink, resulting in increased urge to urinate.
• Metallic taste in the mouth and dry mucous membranes.
• Frequent headaches, nervousness.
• Muscle pain and spasms.

The second type is more severe. It is difficult to treat, especially if there is a tendency to form an ailment. This stage is characterized by symptoms such as: nine0003

• Serious decrease in immunity. Severe colds.
• Increased appetite leading to weight gain. Compulsive overeating.
• Increased hair loss.

Diabetes and pregnancy

It is very difficult to track how diabetes begins in women in position. Hormonal restructuring of the body does not allow to determine the presence of deviations from the analyzes. The level of glucose and insulin at this time fluctuates within the normal range. But already from the second trimester it becomes clear whether there is a pathology. It is during this period that the level of danger is determined. The main external sign indicating the development of the problem is a sharp deterioration in vision. nine0003

During the development of this pathology, the condition of the genitourinary system worsens. Exacerbation of infectious diseases in this type of diabetes occurs even with absolute hygiene. High blood pressure, which does not return to normal for a long time, will also indicate the presence of problems. Impaired protein synthesis leads to the formation of these elements in the urine. If a girl is registered in gynecology, she regularly takes tests. This helps to identify deviations in time and start therapy. But for those who neglect going to the doctor, there is a high probability of not recognizing the beginning of trouble. nine0003

Features of diabetes in girls

Statistics show that women are much more likely to suffer from the manifestation of pathology. This is especially true for the second type of disease. This is due to the fact that the weaker sex has more adipose tissue, and, on the contrary, less muscle mass than men. The fact is that adipose tissue does not absorb insulin, glucose is poorly utilized in it. Also, girls are more prone to stress, which provokes the release of steroid hormones and an increase in glucose levels. nine0003

A special danger in the formation of pathology is the love of sweets. Frequent jamming of problems with cakes and pastries leads to an increase in body fat. This leads to the activation of the disease in women. Also, girls develop another type of pathology - gestational. But we'll talk about it later.

Signs of diabetes on the skin

The course of the disease rarely affects the condition of the skin. However, sometimes changes are noted that indicate problems with glucose production. It is worth paying attention to the following signs: nine0003

• Peeling and dryness of the skin, which were not noticed before.
• Darkening of creases. This is typical for type 2 diabetes.
• Premature aging of the skin. This is due to the fact that pathology can cause aging of the whole organism. It has a very strong effect on the skin.

Such changes are very slow, and most people simply do not pay attention to them. It is also worth remembering that these signs may indicate other health problems. It is worth getting tested if you find yourself with similar symptoms. This will help determine the source of the symptoms and eliminate it. nine0003

Signs of diabetes in women after 30

At this age, as a rule, the first type of diabetes mellitus develops, a rather severe autoimmune disease. The development and manifestation of the disease is rapid and most often does not depend on the lifestyle of the diseased. This type is considered hereditary. Its development is almost impossible to prevent.

Acute symptoms and early signs for this type of disease:

• nausea and vomiting,
• numbness of limbs,
• smell of acetone from the mouth,
• thirst and hunger.

In the presence of these signs, you should not hesitate to take tests in the laboratory. However, you can check the level of sugar with a home glucometer. However, do not forget that such a check will not give you the full picture.

If you have diabetes, don't hesitate to consult with your doctor. You will be prescribed a special diet and treatment that will help eliminate the severe course of the disease and save you from disability. nine0003

Signs of diabetes in women after 40

After 40 years, there is a risk of getting a disorder of both the first and second types. The main reasons for getting such a pathology are a sedentary lifestyle and overeating. The autoimmune system begins to attack the pancreas, where insulin is produced. It is not known why, but lean women have a higher risk of getting diabetes mellitus, the symptoms of which do not manifest actively. nine0003

Insulin injections are rarely required. The main focus of treatment is on a low carbohydrate diet. A healthy lifestyle will help support the body in the fight against the problem. The main thing is not to break into harmful sweets and other temptations. Otherwise, all previous treatment will go to waste.

Signs of diabetes in women after 50

As a rule, at the age of 50 years and older, menopause begins. It disrupts the metabolism in the body, provokes obesity and problems with the cardiovascular system. Also, the restructuring of hormones leads to irritability and stress, which negatively affects the immune system. nine0003

This period of life is characterized by the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. It can be hidden, and you will not understand what signs may indicate the development of the disease. It is important to undergo examinations and tests in a timely manner to identify possible problems. This is especially true for those whose parents and other relatives suffered from this disease.

How to protect yourself from diabetes

Prevention of the development of increased glucose production is quite simple. You need to follow a few tips: nine0003

• Lead an active lifestyle. When sedentary work arrange long walks in the evenings. Skip weekends spent on the couch in front of the TV. This is especially true for overweight people.
• Proper nutrition. Ditch the sweets in favor of whole grains. Add light protein foods to your diet, try not to eat foods with complex carbohydrates. Semi-finished products and fatty foods are your main enemies.
• Avoid stress. Learn to protect yourself from the factors that lead to grief and anxiety. Know how to avoid negative emotions and do not allow yourself to get angry too often. nine0008
• Monitor blood pressure closely. Frequent pressure drops lead to weakening of blood vessels and the whole body.
• Find out if you're predisposed to the condition early with MySugar's specialized DNA testing.

Sequelae of diabetes in women

Without timely treatment, you risk getting serious complications, getting rid of which will be extremely difficult. The main dangers that haunt diabetics who do not adhere to the doctor's recommendations are: nine0003

1. Permanent swelling. Persistent swelling throughout the body is a consequence of excessive fluid retention in the body.
2. Trophic ulcers. They are characteristic of a long course of the disease, which did not respond to appropriate treatment.
3. Gangrene. Damage to the vessels of the extremities as a result leads to amputation. This outcome is characteristic of a neglected form that has lasted for many years.
4. Coma. An extremely rare consequence of a severe form of the disease. This state is preceded by clouding of consciousness and loss of a sense of reality. nine0008

Gestational diabetes

This is a special form of type 1 disease, the signs of which are mild. This type of diabetes occurs only in pregnant women. An increase in sugar levels occurs after 15 weeks and lasts almost until the birth itself. As a rule, after them everything returns to normal. In very rare cases, the disease continues to develop in the future. It is important to consult a specialist in a timely manner.

How to diagnose diabetes

It is possible to diagnose a sugar disease today in any clinic. The doctor will prescribe a series of tests to help determine the level of glucose, the possible stage of development of the disease and the characteristics of your body:

1. Analysis of blood and urine. Shows the level of glucose, helps guide you on the right diet to prevent the disease.
2. Analysis of glycosylated hemoglobin. Helps to recognize fluctuations in blood sugar levels. nine0008
3. Glucose tolerance. Determines the presence of the disease and the level of susceptibility to insulin.

Diabetes mellitus in women

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Intake

Signs of diabetes in men and women do not differ much. However, some features exist.

Diabetes mellitus in women develops more often, which is associated with more common overweight and emerging hormonal measurements in females.

A common symptom of diabetes in women is the presence of fungal and bacterial infections of the reproductive and reproductive systems. Clinically, this is manifested by constant episodes of thrush, which is difficult to treat, frequent vaginitis, colpitis. Women are concerned about vaginal itching, discharge, discomfort and soreness in the vulva. Under the influence of a chronic increase in blood sugar, there is a decrease in the local protective functions of the body, which, coupled with changes in the microflora, lead to infections. If a woman has a problem of this nature, she should immediately take a blood test for sugar and glycated hemoglobin and consult an endocrinologist in a timely manner.

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