Are you aware of early signs of diabetes that occur in women? Some signs of diabetes are different in men and women which are important to identify to prevent the complications of diabetes.

Diabetes is the most common chronic endocrinal and lifestyle disease in the world that causes serious life-threatening complications if not managed by treatment. Diabetes can be defined as when the blood sugar levels get too high because the insulin hormone is not able to manage blood sugar levels. Diabetes directly attacks insulin hormone by making it defective or lowering its production by attacking the pancreas gland. Log on to www.doralhw.org for a consultation.

Symptoms of diabetes in women

These are the symptoms that happen if a woman is diagnosed with diabetes:

• Yeast infection:

This infection happens from yeast that enters the urinary tract, and diabetes provides glucose in the urine which creates fertile ground for yeast infection to grow. It can cause – itchiness around the vagina, redness on the skin, a white curd-like appearance on the skin, pain during intercourse, and white vaginal discharge. Oral yeast infections are a symptom of diabetes.

• Urinary tract infections (UTI):

This infection is common in women; but with diabetes, the risk of having this infection is increased as their blood sugar levels are high. Urinary tract infection (UTI) happens when bacteria enter the urinary tract, including the urethra, ureters, kidneys, and bladder. As diabetes weakens your immune system and leads to sugar in the urine which gives a breeding area for growth. It can cause – pain during urination, a burning sensation during urination, and bloody urination. If left untreated it can cause a kidney infection.

• Sexual Problems:

Diabetes affects your sexual function and your interest in sex or the ability to enjoy it. Some women develop vaginal dryness during intercourse or even experience a lot of pain during sex. Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) happens in diabetes and causes high blood sugar levels over time causing damage to blood vessels where it can damage the nerve that signals or helps in achieving orgasm. High blood sugar also creates a lack of natural lubrication in the vagina which creates your sex painful and difficult.

• Menstrual cycle disturbances:

Diabetes leads to menopause in women earlier than normal. After menopause, women’s body makes less estrogen which causes unpredictable ups and downs in blood sugar. This can cause weight gain and increase your need for insulin or diabetes medicines. Symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, hard to manage blood sugar levels. It also causes sexual problems such as vaginal dryness or nerve damage.

• PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome):

PCOS is a condition associated with insulin resistance which causes ovaries to produce more cysts than normal. What exactly causes this condition is believed to be insulin resistance as its cause or symptom. Cysts are underdeveloped follicles that hold eggs. Symptoms of PCOS include – weight gain, acne, depression, infertility, or uneven periods.

Pregnancy and Gestational diabetes

You always have a question about whether or not you’ll get pregnant or have a healthy delivery if you have diabetes. Well, the answer is yes, you can get pregnant and have a healthy delivery even with diabetes. The only condition is you have to manage your blood sugar level to avoid any complications.

When you are planning to get pregnant, you need to manage your blood sugar levels as close to your target range as possible. This range can differ when you are not pregnant. But when you’re pregnant, blood sugar and ketones go directly to the baby through the placenta because the baby needs it for energy to grow like us. But in case your blood sugar levels are high it can put the child at risk of congenital abnormalities which can cause unborn babies to have premature birth, cognitive impairments, and developmental delays.

Gestational diabetes happens when women develop high blood sugar levels during pregnancy. While it is different from type 1 or type 2 diabetes, it affects 10% of pregnant women in the United States. In this diabetes, pregnancy hormones interfere with the way insulin works, causing the body to make more insulin.

Gestational diabetes develops later in pregnancy and doctors also test it between 24 and 28 weeks (about 6 and a half months). For most people, it goes away after the baby is born.

Management tips

You can manage your diabetes by following these tips:

• Take your medicine on time; don’t skip it or change its timing on its own.
• Ask your doctor which workout plan you should follow.
• Eat a well-balanced diet that does not affect your blood sugar levels. Follow a diabetes meal plan.
• Monitor your blood sugar levels regularly and keep within the targeted range.
• Maintain blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
• Keep yourself hydrated.
• In case you get any illness.

Diabetes is the most common chronic disease in the world, and it is 7th most common cause of death in the United States. Diabetes hits differently in women than men as they have 4 times the risk of getting heart disease as compared to men. That’s why you should notice the symptoms of diabetes in women to manage it and prevent its complications.

Want to learn more about diabetes or looking for treatment?

If you want to know more, you can talk to our endocrinologists for advice and/or a second opinion. To learn more about diabetes and its management visit our Endocrinology page. You can also visit our website at  https://doralhw.org if you have any queries. Call us on +1-347-384-5690 to get answers to your queries or pay us a visit at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11212. And if you have diabetes or have its symptoms, come to us for diagnosis and treatment, we have the best endocrinologists and diabetes specialists to help you throughout the process.