Diabetes Symptoms in Women
If you are a woman, there are 3 types of diabetes that can affect you. They are:
- Gestational diabetes – which occurs during pregnancy
- Type-2 diabetes – also known as “insulin resistant diabetes”
- Diabetes insipidus – sometimes referred to as “water” diabetes
Gestational Diabetes
With gestational diabetes, the problem lies with the placenta. During pregnancy, the placenta is responsible for providing the baby with all nourishment. It at the same time produces numerous hormones that hamper the body’s usual response to insulin. This situation is known as “insulin resistance”. Most women, who are pregnant, do not suffer from gestational diabetes because their pancreas is able to work to create extra amounts of insulin in order to compensate for insulin resistance. But, if a woman’s pancreas is not able to create enough additional insulin, blood levels of glucose stay unusually high and the woman is diagnosed to have gestational diabetes.
During a pregnancy, approximately 1 in 50 women may temporarily develop this condition. Women at risk for gestational diabetes include those who:
- Have a family with a history of diabetes
- Are obese or overweight
- Previously gave birth to a large, heavy baby
- Previously had a stillborn baby. or a baby born with a birth defect, or had excess amount of amniotic fluid
- Are over 25 years old
- Belong to an ethnic group commonly considered to have high rates of gestational diabetes which include American Indians, Mexican-American, African-Americans, as well as women from India, Asia or the Pacific Islands.
- Previously have had gestational diabetes during a pregnancy.
Generally, gestational diabetes might not cause any symptoms, but a woman may experience too much weight gain, extreme hunger and thirst, excessive urination or recurrent vaginal infections.
The list of possible symptoms includes:
- Frequent urination
- Excessive thirst
- Extreme hunger
- Unusual weight loss
- Increased fatigue
- Irritability
- Blurry vision
When a woman is experiencing any of these symptoms, she should seek medical attention early. In fact, a woman should seek medical attention when she begins to think about getting pregnant. The doctor will address gestational diabetes when the woman gets pregnant as part of her regular prenatal care.
Type 2 Diabetes
This diabetes is caused by damaged receptors on the surface of cells which do not recognize insulin. It is often referred to as “insulin resistant diabetes” as well as “adult-onset diabetes”. This is the most common diabetes. Women can develop Type 2 diabetes anywhere from adolescent years thru reproductive years, and on thru the transitional years.
Women who have Type 2 diabetes can still produce insulin but for some reason the receptors located on the surface of cells are damaged and unable to recognize insulin. Because of the inability to use insulin, sugar or glucose can not be use by the cells for energy. The sugar also builds up in the blood system which causes many of the complications of this type of diabetes. The symptoms of Type 2 diabetes do vary from woman to woman but can consist of:
- Fatigue
- Unexplained weight loss
- Excessive thirst (known as polydipsia)
- Excessive urination (polyuria)
- Excessive eating (polyphagia)
- Poor wound healing
- Infections – recurring yeast vaginal infections as well as urinary tract infections
- Altered mental status
- Blurry vision
Diabetes Insipidus
Diabetes insipidus is caused when the kidneys have no ability to save water, which in turn leads to extreme thirst and frequent urinations with large volumes of water. The retaining of water in the kidneys is usually able to be controlled using an antidiuretic hormone (ADH) which is called vasopressin. This hormone is produced in the part of the brain called the hypothalamus and managed with the pituitary gland which is a small gland located at the very base of the brain.
Diabetes insipidus can be caused by damage to the hypothalamus or pituitary gland because of surgery, head injury, cancer, or infection. This is called central diabetes insipidus because the area that controls the retaining of fluid is where the problem lies. Central insipidus is the most common type of diabetes insipidus.
When diabetes insipidus is caused by the kidneys inability to respond to antidiuretic hormone or ADH, it is known as nephrogenic diabetes insipidus and is caused by a problem based usually with the kidneys. Nephrogenic insipidus is an extremely rare form of diabetes.
Symptoms which are common to woman with this condition include:
- Extreme thirst especially for cold water
- Headache
- Muscle weakness
- Fever
- Low blood pressure
- Blurred vision
- Rapid pulse
- Frequent urination, especially during the night
- Dehydration
If you do not drink enough water, dehydration will result. Symptoms of dehydration can include:
- Dry mucous membranes
- Sunken appearance to eyes
- Dry skin
- Fatigue or lethargy
- Irritability
- Headaches
- Low body temperature
- Rapid heart rate
- Muscle pains
- Weight loss
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and are constantly dehydrated, it is important to visit with a medical professional as chronic dehydration can lead to coma or even death.
