How diabetes symptoms may vary in women

Type 2 diabetes cases are on the rise, accounting for 90 to 95 percent of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. The same applies for women and children with diabetes. Because of the obesity epidemic, more and more young women are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Some of the biggest reasons for this rise is availability of more processed foods and increasingly sedentary lifestyles.

Here are some diabetes symptoms specific or mostly seen in women, including signs of type 1, type 2, gestational diabetes, as well as pre-diabetes.

Women with diabetes are at a higher risk of getting a vaginal yeast infection, especially if their blood sugar levels are high. This is because high blood sugar levels reduce your body’s ability to fight infections. Due to diabetes, some women may not be able to empty their bladder all the way, increasing chances of bacterial growth.

If you have irregular periods, it could be a sign that diabetes is impacting your menstrual cycle. For people with Type 1 diabetes, the disease should not affect the age when they get their first period. However, there have been some reports that people with type 1 diabetes experience later first periods

It is not necessary that all women with diabetes will have an irregular cycle. Some women have regular periods even when they're sick.

Compared to men, women are also at risk of developing another health complication – polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS. According to several studies, people with PCOS are at a four times higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Having a history of gestational diabetes also puts you at a higher risk of PCOS.

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According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, up to 10 percent of all pregnant women are affected by gestational diabetes. Hormonal changes during the pregnancy can increase insulin resistance, leading to gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes is often asymptomatic, which puts you at a higher risk of health complications due to lack of awareness. Pregnant women should get glucose tolerance tests at certain stages to test for gestational diabetes.

A baby measuring larger than normal is often a sign of gestational diabetes. According to the US CDC, 50 percent of mothers who have gestational diabetes can develop type 2 diabetes later.

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According to several studies, women have a much greater chance of heart disease, kidney disease and depression. This makes the disease far more life-threatening for women in comparison to men.

Further, changes in the body during menopause can put women at a higher risk of diabetes. They may be more prone to increased blood glucose, weight gain and problems in sleeping. This can lead to further complicated health issues.