Diabetes is a disease that can be experienced by anyone. However, this chronic disease can look and feel different when experienced by women. What are the characteristics of diabetes in women? Check out the full explanation below.
Recognizing the Symptoms of Diabetes in Women
Before explaining the effects of diabetes on women, it should be noted that diabetes can increase 4 times the risk of heart disease in women While in men the risk is lower, which is only 2 times.
In addition, women also have a higher risk of experiencing diseases related to diabetes complications, including blindness, kidney disease, and depression.
In general, people with diabetes will experience symptoms such as frequent urination, frequent thirst and hunger, and weight loss for no apparent reason.
However, there are some typical symptoms that only women experience. Some of these symptoms include:
1. Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
Women with type 2 diabetes have a higher risk of experiencing a UTI. This condition can cause pain when urinating, a burning sensation when urinating, wheezing, and urine mixed with blood.
This is caused by high glucose levels in women with diabetes. Excessive glucose will reduce the amount of natural antibiotics in the body, namely antimicrobial peptides which have an important role to prevent infection.
Women who have experienced menopause generally have low body estrogen levels. This condition will increase the risk of UTI.
The best way to prevent urinary tract infections in women with diabetes is to maintain good hygiene, especially the genital area and to keep blood sugar within a normal range.
In addition, you are advised to stay hydrated to reduce the amount of bacteria in the urine and need to avoid constipation by consuming fibrous foods and sufficient water.
Also Read: Various Food Restrictions for Diabetics
2. Vaginal Yeast Infection
Fungus does live in the human body naturally. However, a yeast infection can occur if the fungus grows too much. Someone who has levels glucose have a higher risk for have a fungal infection.
Glucose can suppress the number of immune proteins in the body, namely human beta defensin. When the number is reduced, immune cells will also move more slowly towards infection, and finally slower to kill microorganisms that cause infection.
In addition, glucose is a food that is preferred by fungi so that more and more pathogens will attach to cells, including the vaginal area.
Symptoms that women who have a yeast infection may experience include: vaginal discharge that looks like cheese, pain in the vaginal area, unpleasant vaginal odor, and pain when urinating.
3. Dry Vagina
If you often experience vaginal dryness, it seems you need to be vigilant. The reason is, this condition often occurs in diabetics.
High glucose levels can cause damage to the vaginal blood vessels. This condition can make a decrease in lubrication and eventually the vagina becomes drier.
In addition, this condition can also cause it to occur decreased libido. Dry vagina makes sexual activity more painful. Reduced blood flow and nerve damage can also cause you to feel less stimulated.
Also Read: Why Are Career Women More Vulnerable to Diabetes?
4. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
PCOS is a hormonal problem that can cause several conditions such as irregular menstruation and infertility.
Women with PCOS usually have insulin resistance. This condition makes the body unable to use the insulin that has been produced effectively, which then increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
High amounts of insulin can cause the ovaries to overproduce testosterone which eventually interferes with ovulation.
Some of the other symptoms that women with PCOS may experience include: weight gain, excessive hair growth, hair loss, and acne.
Now, those are some of the symptoms of diabetes in women that are important for you to know. If you experience symptoms as above, don’t hesitate to consult a doctor to get the right examination and treatment.
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- Berman, Robby. 2022. Why People With Diabetes Have More Utis And How To Prevent Infections. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/why-people-with-diabetes-are-prone-to-utis-how-to-prevent-infections. (Accessed 3 February 2023).
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