Are You Missing These Signs of Diabetes?
Diabetes is one of the most common chronic conditions in the United States, affecting millions of individuals each year. It’s a chronic metabolic disorder in which the body can’t manage blood sugar levels properly.
You probably already know that the condition comes in two different types, but let’s review them once again before we get to the symptoms. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin, while type 2 diabetes involves insulin resistance.
One of the most noticeable differences between the two is how quickly symptoms appear. With type 1 diabetes, symptoms tend to develop rapidly and are often diagnosed in childhood or early adolescence. Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, develops slowly over time. Many people may have it without even realizing it, which is one of the most concerning aspects.
Despite the increasing awareness of the disease, many early symptoms of diabetes are often overlooked, especially in women. Understanding them is critical for early detection and treatment.
8 Most Common Diabetes Symptoms in Women
1. Increased hunger
You surely know about the increased thirst, but have you heard about the increased hunger before? Even though it’s one of the most discussed symptoms, it’s often overlooked. Most of the time, women with undiagnosed diabetes find themselves feeling extremely hungry soon after eating or experience intense cravings that are difficult to control.
Do you wonder why it happens? Well, it’s because the glucose from food isn’t properly entering the cells due to insulin resistance. So, the body thinks that this is starvation and continues signaling hunger.
A major red flag is increased hunger combined with unexplained weight changes. If this sounds familiar, it’s important to distinguish between emotional eating and something more serious, like diabetes.
For example, if the increased appetite is also paired with fatigue or blurry vision, you are most likely becoming a diabetes patient. Make sure to see your doctor as early as possible, and don’t hesitate to tell them exactly how you feel. Early diagnosis can improve treatment outcomes and help you manage the condition more effectively.
2. Dry mouth
Even though it’s one of the most common symptoms of diabetes, dry mouth is still often minimized. Women experience this more often than men. They may feel their mouth is unusually dry, even after drinking fluids. This can be particularly noticeable at night or first thing in the morning.
This symptom is caused by fluid imbalance. When the blood sugar rises, the body pulls fluids from tissues to flush out excess glucose. This leads to dehydration and triggers a constant thirst.
If you experience this symptom, you should immediately speak to your doctor, because dry mouth increases the risk of oral infections. Pay attention to the way you feel. If the feeling of thirst doesn’t go away, even though you drink water, you are most likely dealing with diabetes.
3. Frequent urination
Are you urinating more often than usual? This is another extremely common sign of diabetes. When the blood sugar is too high, the kidneys try to remove the excess by filtering it through urine. Even though this symptom appears subtly, it can rapidly lead to dehydration, especially when it’s paired with symptoms like dry mouth and fatigue.
Keep in mind that if you are urinating more often than usual or often feel thirsty, it’s time to consider a blood glucose test.
4. Persistent itching
Chronic itching is another less obvious symptom that patients often overlook. It can indicate early blood sugar problems, due to the high glucose levels that lead to poor circulation and dehydration.
Most of the patients never consider diabetes when they are dealing with persistent itching. However, after some tests and with no clear dermatological cause, it’s worth exploring metabolic factors.
I used to wake up in the night, scratching my legs and feet. Initially, I thought that I was dealing with a severe allergic reaction, but after a few months of persistent itching, I felt that something was off. After some blood tests and doctor visits, I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The most interesting part was that I never experienced other symptoms. All I felt was an annoying itching in the middle of the night.
My wife read more about the condition, and we later understood that the itching without any dermatological problems is usually a symptom that women deal with.
5. Changes in sexual health
Sexual dysfunction in women with undiagnosed diabetes is commen and can take the form of vaginal dryness, reduced libido, and painful intercourse. Even though these symptoms are usually overlooked, they are extremely common. The elevated glucose levels reduce blood flow and nerve sensitivity, significantly impacting comfort during sexual activity.
Living with someone with the same condition as yours makes things easier. My wife was diagnosed about 10 years ago with type 2 diabetes. Considering our healthy lifestyle, we never thought that I would also end up dealing with the disease. Seeing how some symptoms were different in her case, compared to mine, made us understand that there are some clear differences between men and women and how they deal with diabetes.
My wife experienced serious changes in sexual health, and the worst part was that her symptoms were also combined with fatigue and infections. When she dealt with the vaginal dryness, fatigue, and thirst, all in the same time, we thoght that she might had been dealing with diabetes.
6. Unexplained weight loss or weight gain
This is probably one of the most frustrating symptoms. We all know how difficult it can be to stay fit, especially nowadays, when it feels like almost everything is unhealthy. Unexplained changes are usually caused by weight loss, due to the body begins burning muscle and fat for energy.
On the other hand, insulin resistance often leads to weight gain, especially around the midsection. This is due to the body storing more fat while still signaling hunger due to poor glucose absorption.
7. Blurry vision
Diabetes can cause swelling of the eyes’ lenses, which is probably one of the most annoying symptoms. My wife’s vision used to worsen throughout the day, having difficulties focusing at certain distances. Basically, one of the reasons why she was forced to wear glasses was her diabetes diagnosis.
So, please make sure not to overlook or ignore any interesting signs that might be more than just a minor problem.
Before leaving, here is a great recipe book my wife and I use. Trust me, it’s a game changer in the world of diabetes.
8. Numbness in hands and feet
This is one of the progressive signs of diabetes, especially when it’s left untreated. The condition is called Peripheral Neuropathy and is a form of nerve damage that often begins in the extremities. For many women, it starts with subtle sensations that can be easily overlooked.
These sensations typically begin at the ends of the body and may worsen over time, the pins-and-needles sensations becoming more frequent and even painful, especially at night.
Why does this happen? Well, chronically high blood sugar levels damage the walls of the tiny blood vessels that nourish nerves. This impairs nerve signaling, reducing oxygen delivery and creating inflammation. Be careful, because if not properly treated, this damage becomes permanent.
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