LeeAnna Stock-Luoma RD, LD, CD, CDCES, Author at Dealing With Diabetes

Diabetes is a common health condition among women all around the world and it is extremely essential to be aware of the diabetes symptoms. Below, you will be given complete information on the causes, symptoms and types of diabetes that affect women. Diabetes in Women Increases Diabetes is essentially a metabolic disorder that occurs as a result of elevated glucose levels in the blood. Although both women and men can be impacted by diabetes, the diabetes rate in women has considerably increasedin recent years. Furthermore, studies have indicated that women are at more risk of becoming affected by the causes of diabetes in comparison to men. Therefore, more focus will be placed on being aware of the symptoms in women. Medically, this health condition is referred to as diabetes mellitus. Primarily, diabetes can be categorized into two types; they are Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 is also referred to as juvenile diabetes because it is seen commonly in young children, adults and teenagers typically in the age range of 25 to 30 years. This takes place when the pancreas is incapable of producing insulin, which has the responsibility to transport glucose to the cells of the body. When the body fails to produce an adequate amount of insulin; the level of glucose in the blood increases. That increase results in diabetes. Type 2 diabetes typically occurs in individuals who are middle-aged and older and are afflicted with obesity issues. Type 2 diabetes typically comes about because of poor eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle. In such a case, insulin is produced by the pancreas; however, the body becomes immune to the insulin. It is unable to properly use the insulin, resulting in glucose being present in the blood. Gestational diabetes is another type of diabetes which occurs in women. As suggested by the name, gestational diabetes occurs in pregnant women and it is due to hormonal changes. Although gestational diabetes usually goes away after the birth of the baby, women with this type of diabetes are at greater risk of ultimately developing type 2 diabetes . Causes of Diabetes Typically Type 1 diabetes occurs in individuals with a family history of the disease. Furthermore, individuals who are afflicted with an irregular immune response are known to have this type of the disease. Type 2 diabetes is where genetics also play a role. It is extremely common in obese individuals who have an inactive lifestyle and consume an unhealthy diet. The risks of diabetes are higher in females of particular ethnicity such as Hispanic, American Indian and African-American women. Women who are afflicted with ovarian cysts or have problems with infertility are at a higher risk of developing the disease later on as well. Symptoms of Diabetes Symptom of diabetes in men and women are the same for the most part; however, there are some which take place in women only. Some of the symptoms of diabetes in females are listed below: One of the common symptoms of Type 1 diabetes in females is unexplained weight loss. The human body does not have the capacity to use up all of the calories supplied by the food eaten, even if the individual is a healthy eater. It is extremely important to get yourself checked in the event that you are losing a considerable amount of weight, without dieting and doing much exercise. A symptom that is observed in both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes is the urge to make frequent visits to the bathroom. For the human body to get rid of the excess sugar, a diabetic feels the urge to urinate quite often. This takes place within really short time periods and it is medically referred to as Polyuria. In view of the fact that urinating excessively not only gets rid of the surplus of sugar that is found in the body, but large quantities of water as well, the afflicted individual could possibly have dehydration issues. As a result of this, throughout the day, the woman might experience excessive thirst, which is medically referred to as Polydipsia. Among the typical symptoms of Type 2 diabetes is excessive eating; this is referred to medically as polyphagia. When an individual has developed Type 2 diabetes, the insulin level in the body is extremely high. Due to the fact that insulin assists in the stimulation of hunger, excessive use of insulin might result in the afflicted individual feeling unnecessarily hungry and ultimately end up eating more than the required amount. The presence of skin infections is another diabetes symptom in women, as well as vaginal yeast infections, in view of the fact that diabetes is a disorder which assists the yeast in growing easily. In addition, diabetic women may very frequently have urinary tract infections as well. Sexual dysfunction is a commonly observed symptom of diabetes in females as well. Research has revealed that diabetic women might experience discomfort or pain while participating in sexual intercourse, a reduction in vaginal lubrication and vaginal sensitivity as well as the inability to reach an orgasm. In addition to the physical symptoms, a number of psychological symptoms might be noticed in women affected by the disease as well. They might experience severe agitation and lethargy and from time to time, they might feel irritable without a valid cause. As it relates to gestational diabetes, there is no overt symptoms that may be observed. However, when an expectant mother has high blood pressure, chances are great that she has gestational diabetes. Although the majority of women have these symptoms, in a number of cases, individuals afflicted with Type 2 diabetes, will not have any symptoms for years. Typically, Type 2 diabetes is discovered after severe health problems such as vision problems or heart attacks arise. As a result, it is essential for women to get themselves regularly checked for diabetes after age 40. Detecting these symptoms early will make sure that individuals receive proper treatment in order to control the level of blood sugar and prevent any major complications associated with the disease.