Type 2 diabetes affects both women and men, but women can have some symptoms that are specific to them. In this article, we’ll discuss how diabetes specifically affects women’s health, as well as symptoms, how diabetes affects pregnancy, risk factors, and treatments. We’ll also cover how to know when you need to see a medical provider for diabetes care.
How Diabetes Affects Women and Men Differently
Women and men can both get diabetes. But some types of symptoms can appear different in women and men, usually relating to sexual, hormonal, reproductive, or urological health.
In both women and men, signs of diabetes can include:
Increased thirst and appetite
Slow wound healing
Skin infections
Skin rashes
Skin darkening in areas with folds (neck, armpits, groin)
Sweet-smelling breath
Sweet-smelling urine
Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
Unexplained weight loss (in type 1 diabetes)
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Symptoms of Diabetes in Women
Women with diabetes may experience some unique symptoms of diabetes.
Vaginal and oral yeast infections and vaginal thrush
Yeast infections can be a common female health problem. They’re not unique to women who have diabetes, but diabetes can increase the likelihood of getting Candida. Diabetes leads to high blood sugar levels, and when uncontrolled, can alter circulation, blood vessel health, and overall immune function. This can make it easier for fungal infections, like Candida, to thrive in the body.
While vaginal yeast infections are common, yeast overgrowth can happen in the mouth, too. This is known as oral thrush.
Symptoms of vaginal yeast infections include:
Vaginal discharge that may appear white or cottage-cheese-like
Itching
Soreness
Painful urination
Symptoms of oral yeast infections include:
A white film or coating on the tongue, cheeks, tonsils, or gums
Redness, soreness, or pain in the mouth that may make it hard to eat and drink
Urinary infections
Women can get urinary tract infections (UTIs) for many reasons, but the risk goes up in those who have diabetes. Uncontrolled blood sugar can reduce how well the immune system can eliminate bacteria, the pathogen that causes UTIs. Diabetes also increases the risk of bacterial infections being harder to treat.
Urinary tract infections cause symptoms that include:
Bloody or cloudy urine
Burning sensation when urinating
Painful urination
Feeling the need to urinate constantly
UTIs must be treated promptly and thoroughly to avoid the risk of bacteria migrating from the urinary tract into the kidneys. UTIs that become kidney infections can progress and lead to severe health risks, including sepsis.
Female sexual dysfunction
Diabetes can cause sexual problems in women, including low libido and problems having an orgasm.
Diabetes can damage blood vessels and nerves when glucose levels are uncontrolled. This can lead to poor circulation, which can decrease sex drive. Loss of nerve function can also make it more difficult to achieve orgasm.
Polycystic ovary syndrome
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a female reproductive disorder that involves imbalanced hormones. Androgens like testosterone go up, while other hormones may be disrupted because of higher androgen levels.
PCOS includes symptoms like:
Irregular periods
Weight gain
Hirsutism (excessive hair growth)
Infertility
Insulin resistance
PCOS increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Pregnancy and Diabetes
People who have either type 1 or type 2 diabetes can safely get pregnant. It is important to make sure that diabetes is well-controlled prior to conceiving and to work closely with your medical care team during pregnancy. People with diabetes may receive extra testing or monitoring during pregnancy, depending on other health factors and age.
It is essential to control diabetes during pregnancy because high glucose levels can lead to birth defects, fetal growth problems, and an increase in the risk of stillbirth.
Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes occurs only during pregnancy. Pregnancy hormones can affect how the body responds to insulin, which can cause some people to develop diabetes only during pregnancy. In most cases, gestational diabetes does not start until the second trimester. All pregnant people are screened using a glucose tolerance test between 24-28 weeks. Some people may fail the first round of testing, but pass a more extensive test. Others will have elevated glucose levels after both rounds of testing and will be diagnosed with gestational diabetes.
It is not possible to cure or prevent gestational diabetes, but like other types of diabetes, it can be managed with medication, diet, and exercise. It is possible to have a safe pregnancy with gestational diabetes with careful medical and lifestyle management.
Women who get gestational diabetes are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
Risk Factors for Diabetes in Women
Risk factors for diabetes include:
Being over age 45
Family history of type 2 diabetes
Prediabetes
Gestational diabetes
Giving birth to a baby larger than 9 pounds
Overweight or obesity
Increased abdominal fat
Lack of physical activity or sedentary lifestyle
Certain race/ethnicity including African American, Alaska Native, American Indian, Asian-American, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander
Diabetes Treatments for Women
In addition to managing blood sugar and insulin, there are specific factors that are unique to treating diabetes in women.
Switching birth control
Contraceptives are used by women for many reasons that extend beyond preventing pregnancy. While these medications have become an essential part of women’s health care, certain types of birth control medication can increase glucose levels. In women who have diabetes, this can make it harder to control glucose and insulin.
Medical providers can recommend alternative birth control medication that may have less of an effect on diabetes symptoms.
Yeast infection medications
High levels of blood sugar can cause or worsen yeast infections by making them harder to treat. Hyperglycemia suppresses how well the immune system is able to respond to fungal infections like Candida that thrive in high-sugar environments.
Over-the-counter yeast infection medication can be effective, although women with diabetes may experience recurrent infections or harder to treat cases. These may require prescription treatment as well as specific dietary and lifestyle changes to control glucose.
Diabetes medication
There are many medications that are used to help control blood sugar levels and the body’s insulin response.
Commonly prescribed diabetes medications include:
Sulfonylureas (Glyburide)
Meglitinides (Prandin)
Glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists (Trulicity)
Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (Farxiga)
Lifestyle changes
In many cases, type 2 diabetes can be effectively managed with medication and lifestyle changes. A medical provider may recommend the following ways to support balanced blood sugar and insulin response in diabetes:
Regular physical activity (at least 30 minutes per day, 5 days a week)
Avoidance of smoking or tobacco use
Limited alcohol intake
Maintaining a healthy body weight and body mass index (BMI)
Eating a diet rich in fiber from vegetables, fruits, and whole grains
Minimizing salt, saturated fat, and added sugars
Consuming anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats from foods like salmon, chia seeds, flaxseeds, and walnuts
Supporting healthy vitamin D levels
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When to See a Medical Provider
If you have questions about symptoms or wonder whether you could have diabetes, check in with a medical provider. Diabetes can be diagnosed from simple blood tests.
If you notice unexpected weight loss, fatigue, and other signs of diabetes, consult a healthcare provider. While type 1 diabetes mostly develops in childhood (it is sometimes called juvenile diabetes), it can happen in adults. Type 1 diabetes can come on suddenly over a few weeks. Type 2 diabetes may produce no symptoms for a long time, or may show no signs for years.
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