Coming in as the seventh-most deadly disease in the United States, diabetes isn’t something you want to ignore. But according to research conducted by the American Diabetes Association, 32.3 million Americans had diabetes in 2015 — but a whopping 7.2 million of them went diagnosed. What gives?
“There are common signs to diabetes, such as frequent urination, increased thirst, weight loss, blurred vision and fatigue,” Lucille Hughes, a registered nurse and director of diabetes education for South Nassau Communities Hospital and treasurer of the American Association of Diabetes Educators, tells SheKnows. “However, many signs and symptoms of diabetes are vague and can be a symptom of other things.”
This is especially true for women. While rates of diabetes are relatively equal across the board, there are several signs of diabetes that are unique to women that you may not have even realized. Especially as November is National Diabetes Month, here are some of the red flags you may be overlooking.
Vaginal dryness, recurrent yeast infections or urinary tract infections
Believe it or not, some urogenital conditions can be signs of diabetes.
“Genital symptoms may show up more in women than in men,” Dr. Margo Hudson, a Harvard Medical School instructor and physician at the Fish Center for Women’s Health at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, told SheKnows. “A typical case is a woman with recurrent yeast infections and recurrent urinary tract infections who goes to the gynecologist and also finds high blood sugar.”
Hughes explains that diabetes causes more glucose to be excreted in your urine, leading to these increased tract infections. However, she also points out that some of these symptoms are often misunderstood, especially by older, postmenopausal women.
“Menopause brings about changes in a woman’s body, such as increased weight, vaginal dryness and discomfort during sexual intercourse,” Hughes says. “Vaginal dryness and discomfort during sexual intercourse are also signs of diabetes, and weight gain puts a woman at risk for diabetes.”
As this risk increases as both men and women age, it is important to note these overlapping symptoms.
Oral Thrush
In addition to vaginal yeast infections, oral yeast infections (AKA cases of “oral thrush“) are also a common sign to look out for. You may see white patches, experience redness or soreness in your mouth, have swollen red gums or the inner parts of your cheek or experience trouble eating or swallowing because of these infections.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome
Polycystic ovarian syndrome is a hormonal disorder that occurs when a person with ovaries produces an excess of androgens. If it is not treated, it can lead to a number of complications, including diabetes.
The common denominator of PCOS and diabetes is insulin resistance, a condition that up to 70 percent of people with PCOS exhibit. But while insulin resistance is understood to be a cause of diabetes, medical professionals are not sure whether this condition is a consequence or a cause of PCOS.
“With diabetes, we can measure blood sugar and you meet criteria or you don’t,“ Hudson explains. “With PCOS, there is no single marker. In my practice, patients are often first diagnosed with diabetes, and it is not until you put together their whole medical history that you realize that the patient also has PCOS.”
And since it’s estimated that almost half of PCOS cases go undiagnosed, it may not be the most recognizable sign of diabetes. But if you have already been diagnosed with PCOS, talk to your health care provider about managing your insulin, and thus mitigating your risk for developing diabetes.
A history of gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes is a specific type of diabetes that only appears when people are pregnant, causing high blood sugar levels that could harm both the pregnant person and the baby.
“Most women are not aware they have gestational diabetes,” Hughes says. “Keep in mind that some of the symptoms of diabetes, such as increased thirst, increased urination and fatigue are all common in pregnancy, so they may not trigger an expecting mom to seek medical attention.”
According to Hughes, women are especially at risk if they have developed gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy, if they have previously given birth to a child weighing more than 9 pounds or if their body mass index is over 30. She suggests that all women get screened for gestational diabetes within the first 24 to 28 weeks of their pregnancy to best manage the potential health risks.
Typically, with proper medical attention, these cases of diabetes disappear after the baby is born. Problem solved, right?
Not so fast.
“Gestational diabetes is a huge warning sign to patients,” Hudson explains. “Depending on their ethnicity, these patients have anywhere from a 50 to 70 percent chance of getting diabetes later in life.”
While this sounds a little scary to any new moms out there, Hudson points out that this indicator may actually be a good thing, as patients can now understand and manage their risk at an earlier age.
So you know the signs… now what?
While the signs of diabetes seem to be scattered around different medical specializations, don’t be afraid to talk to a medical professional about symptoms that seem to be unrelated.
“Whether it is a gynecologist, a [physician assistant] or… a nurse practitioner at a walk-in center, a patient needs to tell all of their symptoms,” Hudson says. “It will not take the system long to figure out what the problem is and who within the system would be the best person the patient needs.”
So when in doubt, ask a medical practitioner about any symptoms you think might be a sign of diabetes. The sooner you are diagnosed, the sooner you’ll be able to start getting the treatment you need.
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