Diabetes mellitus: symptoms in women and methods of prevention. Early signs of diabetes in women.

What signs of diabetes in women should you pay attention to?

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Topic: Conquered diabetes

To: Administration aboutdiabetes.ru

At the age of 47, I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. In a few weeks I gained almost 15 kg. Constant fatigue, drowsiness, feeling of weakness, vision began to fade.

And here is my story

When I turned 55, I was already steadily injecting myself with insulin, everything was very bad... The disease continued to develop, periodic attacks began, the ambulance literally brought me back from the other world. I always thought that this time would be the last...

Everything changed when my daughter gave me an article to read on the Internet. You can’t imagine how grateful I am to her for this. This article helped me completely get rid of diabetes, a supposedly incurable disease. Over the last 2 years I have started to move more; in the spring and summer I go to the dacha every day, grow tomatoes and sell them at the market. My aunts are surprised how I manage to do everything, where so much strength and energy comes from, they still can’t believe that I’m 66 years old.

Who wants to live a long, energetic life and forget about this terrible disease forever, take 5 minutes and read this article.

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Sharp weight loss. This occurs as a result of a lack of insulin in the body. Its job is to break down food, resulting in the cells absorbing calories and all nutrients. Weight loss occurs when type 1 diabetes occurs, which is called insulin-dependent. This is most typical for women and girls. Sudden weight loss is a serious cause for concern, so in such a situation it is important to consult a doctor as quickly as possible.
Excess body weight. Weight in women with developing diabetes mellitus increases as a result of the fact that the body produces insufficient amounts of insulin necessary for the normal functioning of the body. Excess weight appears during pregnancy with gestational diabetes. Of course, weight gain can also occur for other reasons, for example, during menopause in women. Such changes in the body should be treated with extreme caution. This approach will make it possible to diagnose diabetes at an early stage.
Signs of diabetes in women include feeling constantly thirsty. As a result, large amounts of water are consumed. However, dry mouth does not disappear.
Frequent feeling of fatigue. The first signs that occur in women are a constant feeling of fatigue. In this case, weakness, lack of physical strength and even exhaustion are observed, which at first glance have no objective reasons. Fatigue and weakness are the first symptoms of diabetes in women.
Constant hunger. Despite regular meals, a woman constantly feels hungry. The reason for increased appetite is explained by metabolic disorders in the body.
Increased number of urinations. These signs indicate that the body is trying to fight abnormally high blood sugar levels. The need to remove it from the body causes frequent urge to urinate. Diabetes mellitus interferes with the normal functioning of the kidneys.
Vision disorders. As a result of increased blood sugar, retinal disorder occurs. There is a feeling of fogginess before the eyes, as well as a double effect. Diabetic retinopathy often occurs in patients with diabetes.
Damage to the reproductive system. In women, various mycoses, as well as thrush, often occur in the area of the external genitalia. Treatment of these diseases in the presence of diabetes mellitus may be ineffective.

Eczema is described in detail on the website https://www.dermatit.net/ekzema/

Causes of diabetes in women

The main cause of diabetes in women is genetic predisposition. When both parents have diabetes, the child has a 50% chance of developing diabetes. In this case, even with the right diet and prevention, the process cannot be stopped. At the same time, even if people are healthy and the process is programmed, there will be no successful measures, only therapy.

There are also the following causes of diabetes:

extra pounds – due to the large amount of fat in the body, this leads to an obstacle to the natural process of glucose absorption. This factor is characteristic of form 2, developing after 40;
pathologies of infectious disease - a particular danger comes from diseases that were suffered as a child. But in the case of predisposition, simple flu can cause illness;
stress, overwork - this applies to women over 30 who worry about family, relatives, children;
bad habits.

Factors in the development of the disease differ depending on the form.

Autoimmune diseases, when the body produces antibodies against its own cells. Insulin stops being produced.
A viral infection provokes pathology. This often happens when you have had influenza, rubella, mononucleosis, hepatitis. When the beta cells of the pancreas are affected by the virus, the body produces specific antibodies.
Changes in cellular immunity.

When type 2 diabetes develops, beta cell sugar production is not impaired.

decreased immunity

Etiology and classification

Depending on the characteristics of development, diabetes is divided into two types:

Type 1 (or insulin-dependent form) – is recorded, as a rule, among young people. The main reason for the development of the disease is the synthesis of antibodies that destroy pancreatic cells. This happens due to disorders in the immune system. The provoking factor may be a viral infection (for example, chicken pox or rubella). Genetic predisposition to diabetes matters.
Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent form) - develops among overweight people over 40 years of age or in older people. The cause of this type of disease is loss of tissue sensitivity to insulin. The main causative factors for this form of the disease are obesity and heredity.

Also worth noting is the so-called symptomatic diabetes, which develops against the background of other diseases or disorders in the body. When concomitant pathologies are eliminated, the sugar level returns to normal on its own. Among the diseases that provoke hyperglycemia are:

inflammatory or tumor processes that affect the pancreas;
hormonal pathologies (for example, pheochromocytoma);
influence of drugs and chemical compounds;
individual genetic syndromes.

In addition, there is diabetes in pregnant women (gestational diabetes) and diabetes mellitus, which develops against the background of insufficient nutrition.

Early signs of diabetes

The peculiarity of the pathology is that the initial stage may not manifest itself in any way for several years. During this time, the pathology destroys the body, while the diabetic will not even suspect that he has diabetes.

Women are more likely to experience diabetes. This is due to the fact that they have more stress in their lives than men. Therefore, it is important to know what the first signs of the disease develop in the weaker sex.

There are the first signs of diabetes in women, and if they occur, you should immediately consult a doctor.

You constantly feel weak, decreased performance, and tired. These symptoms, of course, are observed in various diseases, while the developing early signs of diabetes in women, even after resting and psychologically unloading their thoughts, do not recede.
A diabetic complains of drowsiness and lethargy. This is especially noticeable when the patient eats. In this case, the first signs of diabetes in a woman are observed every day, as soon as she eats.
The oral cavity is always dry and thirsty - this sign indicates the presence of a disease. The patient drinks all the time and cannot get drunk. This manifestation is alarming and requires a visit to the doctor.
An increase in the volume of urine is a logical symptom, since with endless drinking of liquid this leads to frequent visits to the bathroom.
Constant feeling of hunger – those who are affected by diabetes want to eat all the time because they feel hungry. Sweet foods are often consumed.
Rapid weight loss - if a girl has type 1 diabetes, then her weight will quickly and sharply decrease.
Skin itching is a rare symptom, but it does occur. The manifestation is mainly observed in the groin.
Skin problems – ulcers may appear on the body.

drowsiness

These signs are initial for the weaker sex, having noticed which they are examined.

Types of diabetes

There are many types of diabetes, but the most common, which occur more often in women, are type 1 and type 2 diabetes, as well as gestational diabetes. They are otherwise called insulin-dependent or juvenile - type 1, and insulin-resistant - type 2 diabetes, in turn, the gestational form is associated with the period of pregnancy. It is important to note that only women can experience the gestational form of this disease. The gestational form develops during the second trimester of pregnancy and is currently poorly understood.

The most important symptom of diabetes is increased blood sugar

Their pathogenesis is different, but the main symptoms are almost identical. Type 1 diabetes mellitus, as a rule, develops quickly and has a clear clinical picture with fairly well-defined symptoms. But the second type is more insidious, because the prediabetic period can develop over many years.

Symptoms of diabetes in women

When sugar metabolism changes at the age of 30, it is most likely a type 1 disease, which is a severe immune disease. An increase in insulin in the blood, provoked by an unhealthy lifestyle, does not form in such early years. Type 1 diabetes mellitus in women develops quickly and almost instantly provokes acute symptoms.

At the age of 40, women have symptoms of 2 types of pathology. Glucose can rise due to an irrational menu and sedentary life. Perhaps the beginning of an autoimmune attack on the beta cells of the pancreas, which produces sugar. The victims are often slender, thin ladies.

Symptoms of type 2 diabetes in women often begin at age 45. The disease is easily brought under control if you switch to a healthy lifestyle. In this form, attacks on beta cells also occur and, due to the predisposition to attacks, will determine whether obesity turns into diabetes. In rare cases, the disease develops after age 50.

The first signs of diabetes in women do not develop in the first stages, but develop and last for many months. The insulin-dependent form has the following manifestations:

weight decreases sharply, leading to weakness;
constant thirst leading to frequent visits to the bathroom;
metallic taste in the mouth, dryness;
often headaches, which provokes nervousness;
vision deteriorates;
Muscles ache and spasms occur.

headache

Symptoms of type 2 diabetes in women are somewhat similar to form 1.

Reduced immunity, inability to overcome a cold.
Increased appetite, leading to weight gain.
Hair falls out and facial hair may grow.

Features of diabetes

According to statistics: for every ten people suffering from diabetes, nine have type 2 pathology, and most often these are women.

According to scientists, this is explained by the following:

stronger influence of sex hormones on the female body;
Women have more fat and less muscle tissue, which is one of the differences between male and female physiology.

It is important to take into account the fact that adipose tissue is less sensitive to insulin, that is, glucose breakdown processes occur in it to a lesser extent compared to muscle tissue.

many other factors influence the development of the disease and the appearance of signs of diabetes in women For example, girls and women are more susceptible to stress, which, in fact, provokes a powerful release of steroid hormones, which causes an increase in blood sugar levels. Also, not a single woman will refuse sweets to lift her mood, which can subsequently lead to an even bigger problem - obesity, which is one of the factors in the development of diabetes.

I would like to draw attention to the fact that women suffer equally from both types of diabetes. However, today experts have identified another type of pathology that is exclusively “female” - gestational diabetes, which manifests itself during the period of bearing a child. As a rule, all signs and characteristic symptoms of diabetes disappear after childbirth, but in some cases, gestational diabetes becomes the main cause of the development of a chronic pathology. That is, any woman should remember that the period of bearing a child is one of the risk factors for the development of diabetes.

Symptoms of diabetes mellitus in pregnant women

Often the presence of the first symptoms of gestational diabetes mellitus in women is not suspected, since in mild cases there are no signs. Therefore, a blood glucose test is taken.

Symptoms and signs during advanced pregnancy appear:

thirsty all day;
frequent trips to the toilet;
hunger.

Among the external signs of diabetes mellitus in women during pregnancy, vision deterioration occurs without obvious factors.

With the development of pathology, an exacerbation of genitourinary infections occurs, which indicates a sign. Especially when hygiene of intimate places was strictly observed throughout pregnancy.

blurred vision

A common symptom of the pathology is high blood pressure, which occurs over a long period. Increased protein in urine indicates kidney problems. Thus, diabetes mellitus is a factor in this manifestation.

In the first trimester, the disease may not develop at all; insulin levels do not fluctuate significantly. Therefore, a woman often undergoes 2-3 tests per week. From the 13th week the indicator increases sharply, and it is detected most often during this period.

Importance of diagnosis

Timely diagnostic measures aimed at identifying diabetes will help begin treatment of this dangerous chronic pathology, as well as avoid serious consequences for human health.

The main diagnostic criterion is a significant increase in blood sugar levels. The corresponding test can be taken in a clinical laboratory (the test is performed on an empty stomach, blood is drawn from a vein or finger). After blood is drawn, glucose levels are measured.

Exceeding the permissible norms indicates the presence of a disease.
Insufficient insulin indicates the development of type 1 diabetes.
The main symptom of angiopathy is atherosclerosis of the blood vessels of the lower extremities and heart muscle.
Encephalopathies/neuropathies are characterized by neuroses, the appearance of headaches, a feeling of constant weakness, and serious cerebral circulatory disorders.
Nephropathies - manifested by increased blood pressure, severe swelling and polyuria.
Retinopathy is a pathology that manifests itself in diabetes with the following symptoms in women : pain in the eyes, rapid decline in visual function, deterioration of the retinal vessels.

Women suffering from symptoms of diabetes , if necessary, can independently monitor their glucose levels; for these purposes, special devices are used - glucometers.

Measurement of indicators is carried out similarly to the procedure performed in a clinical laboratory. The resulting blood falls on a special test strip and within seconds the blood glucose concentration is displayed on the device screen.

How women can avoid diabetes

It is better to prevent diabetes in women than to treat it afterwards.

Measures that allow diabetes mellitus to prevent the development of symptoms in women and preventive treatment include:

nutrition – complete and high quality;
active life;
stress resistance performance.

Due to constant physical activity, the quality of life improves.

Gymnastics classes – Bodyflex – show good results. Exercises are performed for 15 minutes, resulting in strengthening muscles, improving metabolic processes, and effectively burning kilograms with type 2 diabetes in women.

bodyflex

It is important to monitor your diet, which will become competent preventive measures against the symptoms of diabetes. Semi-finished products, alcohol, and spicy foods are completely removed from the diet.

To understand whether you have diabetes and what the symptoms are in women, you need to know what the normal blood glucose level is. On an empty stomach it is 3.3-3.5 mmol/l. With prediabetes, fasting insulin is more than 5.5 and less than 7.1 mmol/l.

If a woman has diabetes, then on an empty stomach the figure is more than 7.1 or 11.1 mmol/l.

Description of the disease

Many people have heard the diagnosis “diabetes mellitus”. The majority of the family has representatives who received this disappointing “sentence.”

But, if you observe a sick relative and do not see characteristic changes in his behavior, it means that he, in turn, makes considerable efforts to maintain his condition as normal. Then what is diabetes mellitus?

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease associated with insufficient production of the hormone insulin by the pancreas.

Harbingers of pancreatic dysfunction are changes and concomitant disturbances in carbohydrate metabolism and water balance in the patient’s body.

A lack of insulin leads to the accumulation of sugar in the body, which must be processed into glucose due to the timely influence of the described hormone.

The characteristic accumulation of sugar in the blood leads to malaise and subsequent changes in the human body. Sugar itself is excreted in large quantities in the urine. This leads to gradual dehydration, which manifests itself in constant thirst.

Types of disease

There are several types of the disease presented in the article, which directly affect the entire nature of the manifestation of the disease and its treatment. The following varieties are distinguished here:

Type 1 disease – characterized by a complete lack of insulin production, which requires immediate medicinal administration of the hormone into the patient’s blood (special insulin injections are used);
Type 2 – the internal tissues of the sick person’s body do not respond to the production of insulin;
MODY diabetes - congenital hereditary disorders of the pancreas, leading to “failures” in the normal production of insulin;
acquired - often occurs due to poor diet and high consumption of sweets, which leads to disruption of the endocrine system (more often develops in children);
Type 3 entered medicine recently and is characterized by the manifestation of types 1 and 2 simultaneously;
diabetes insipidus – there is a disruption in the production of the hormone vasopressin, an enzyme whose role is to regulate the water balance in the body in the person as a whole;
gestational – complications during pregnancy associated with the production of hormones necessary for the development of the fetus, but blocking the timely and normal production of insulin;
primary – destruction of endocrine cells, which leads to a gradual decrease in insulin in the blood to a critical point;
steroid – occurs due to the use of medications for a long time, which also provoked disruption of the pancreas, can provoke types 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus;
latent – does not appear until any stressful situations occur, pregnancy or the development of an infectious disease;
compensated - requires constant medical intervention to maintain blood glucose levels within acceptable levels, otherwise the likelihood of a sudden complication and death of the patient increases;
decompensated - any medical intervention does not produce positive results, which leads to complications and urgent hospitalization;
subcompensated - a state between compensated and decompensated diabetes, when the patient’s condition can be maintained, but deterioration can occur at any time (however, there is no need to talk about hyperglycemic coma);
hidden – does not show signs of development, is revealed spontaneously after passing the appropriate tests;
labile – does not allow you to select the required dosage of insulin administration, can sharply and unreasonably lead to hyperglycemic coma with a fatal outcome;
autoimmune - characterized by manifestations according to the 2nd type of disease, but disorders related to the 1st type occur in the body;
bronze – accompanied by a disorder of iron metabolism, which leads to increased iron content (men are more affected).

These are all types of diabetes. Many specialists do not use the provided subtypes to determine the diagnosis. They are limited to standard divisions into types 1 and 2 of the disease, which is fundamentally wrong, although a gradual deviation from established standards is occurring.

What does the norm say?

As mentioned above, diabetes is diagnosed when high levels of glucose are detected in the blood. This may happen spontaneously, during a routine medical examination.

The first signal for further action to diagnose the disease should be elevated glucose levels.

So, on an empty stomach in a healthy person, the given figure does not exceed 5.5 mmol/l. Diabetes mellitus is diagnosed with a high degree of probability when the same indicator exceeds 6.7 mmol/l.

The presented indicators are not accurate for determining and diagnosing diabetes mellitus. Analyzes should be carried out at certain intervals, which will determine the dynamics of the level of glycated hemoglobin.

Glycated hemoglobin is a protein that has changed due to prolonged exposure of hemoglobin in a glucose solution.

The rate of glycated hemoglobin in diabetes mellitus should not increase above 6.5% to 6.9%. In a healthy person, glycated hemoglobin ranges from 4.5% to 6.4%. If the rate exceeds 7%, then the patient is diagnosed with type 2 of the disease.

Diabetes mellitus: types, symptoms and treatment, video:

Consequences of diabetes in women

If treatment for the pathology is not started immediately, serious complications may develop. Often, patients with high sugar levels do nothing, which leads to danger to life.

How does diabetes manifest itself?

Comatose state is a terrible manifestation. The patient faces clouding of mind; he does not feel reality. Without consulting a doctor, death occurs.
Swelling - speaks of the formation of cardiac inferiority.
Trophic ulcers develop in people who have been struggling with pathology for a long time.
Gangrene occurs in those who have been undergoing therapy for several years. It manifests itself as damage to large and small vessels. Gangrene cannot be treated. It often develops on the legs, which ultimately leads to their amputation.

swelling in women

It is difficult to calculate the disease present, but it is possible. If you suspect the development of pathology, you should not delay going to the hospital.

Characteristic signs of pathology

Symptoms in women are practically no different from those in men, but for accurate diagnosis it is necessary to distinguish them. It should be noted that ignoring the signs of impending diabetes in women can lead to the development of serious complications and even disability.

The first signs of diabetes in the body include symptoms such as:

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes

Weakness. Fatigue and frequent bouts of drowsiness are one of the first alarming symptoms, regardless of type. Weakness can easily be confused with sensations caused by hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle. Weakness associated with this disease may be mistaken for monthly deviations in general health.
Thirst. A feeling of dry mouth and unquenchable thirst are among the most characteristic signs of the disease in women, but this symptom is very nonspecific. Thirst and a tendency to drink large amounts of liquid arise due to severe dehydration of the body as a result of frequent urination.
Frequent urination is characteristic of this disease and occurs as a compensatory mechanism to remove excess glucose from the body. This condition is called glycosuria and is determined by taking a general urine test.

There are also individual symptoms characteristic of a particular type of disease. The first type of diabetes is accompanied by rapid weight loss in a woman, and this symptom is noted against the background of increased appetite. On the contrary, type 2 disease is typical for women with metabolic disorders; they often have overweight or even varying degrees of obesity. Over the years, the signs and symptoms of the disease increase.

Second echelon

If timely treatment is not started, the disease continues to progress. Blood oversaturated with sugar prevents the immune system from functioning normally, which opens the door to all kinds of infections.

Fungi are the first to attack. These microorganisms are constantly present on completely healthy skin, but the immune system does not allow them to run wild, so their presence does not bother anyone. But as soon as the defense weakens, the fungi immediately begin to grow. The nails on the toes, and then on the hands, become covered with unsightly spots, itching, burning, and a foul odor appear.

It's not just your nails that suffer. In women, diabetes quickly provokes the appearance of a rather specific problem - vaginal thrush. The Candida fungus generally “loves” to cling to this particular place, and diabetes creates the most favorable conditions for it. In this case, candidiasis can become so aggressive that it begins to damage not only the vulva and vagina, but also internal organs.

Untreated diabetes mercilessly spoils your appearance. Small growths develop on the skin, as if hanging on a thin stalk (acrochordons). The neck, armpits, area under the breasts, groin, and inner thighs become covered with dark spots (acanthosis nigricans). (The symptoms and dangers of diabetes are also discussed here and here).

The heels turn from pink and smooth into a brown, keratinized mass, corroded by deep painful cracks. No scrubs, masks or peelings help. But an ugly appearance is not so bad. A much more serious problem is constant pain. It hurts for a woman to walk, it hurts to step on her feet.

The cracks enlarge, become inflamed, and a life-threatening condition such as “diabetic foot” gradually creeps up.

Elevated sugar destroys hair. The disappearance of fine vellus hairs on the arms and legs does not cause regret, women are even happy - there is less hassle with hair removal. But catastrophic hair loss on the head is perceived as a tragedy. It doesn’t go as far as complete baldness, but a half-length parting of the head, framed by sparse, lifeless, dull hair, doesn’t suit anyone.

The whole body is constantly itching, and there is a persistent and unpleasant odor reminiscent of acetone.

The legs become covered with ulcers, and they often suffer from painful cramps, especially at night.

Slowly but surely obesity is developing.

Only timely treatment can slow down the occurrence of these problems. Therefore, at the slightest suspicion of diabetes, a woman needs to consult a specialist as soon as possible.

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Features of the proposed diet

In order to maintain a certain sugar level in type 2 diabetes, you need to limit the amount of carbohydrates consumed. At the same time, you should choose healthy fats and complete proteins for your diet. Naturally, we should not forget about the usefulness of vitamins, trace elements and minerals. The transition to the type of nutrition in question should be gradual. However, changes in patients after a low-carbohydrate diet are observed within a few days. Thus, fats cannot raise blood sugar levels, unlike carbohydrates. And proteins practically do not raise sugar. This diet has proven its effectiveness in practice.

Signs in women over 50

Typically, menopause begins at age 50 or older. It disrupts the metabolism in the body, provokes obesity and problems with the cardiovascular system. Also, changes in hormones lead to irritability and stress, which negatively affects the immune system.

This period of life is characterized by the development of type 2. It can be hidden, and you will not understand what signs may indicate the development of the disease. It is important to undergo timely examinations and tests to identify possible problems. This especially applies to those whose parents and other relatives suffered from this disease.

Thiazolidinediones and meglitinides

Meglitinides stimulate the production of hormones by the pancreas and also effectively lower blood sugar. They act on the membrane layer of cells, and not on the cells themselves, which allows them not to suppress biosynthesis. The main representatives of this group of drugs are Starlix and Novonorm, which contain nateglinide.

Thiazolidinediones have a pronounced hypoclimic effect, do not interfere with the production of insulin, stimulate the process of gene transcription, and also neutralize the risk of developing vascular and cardiac complications. The most commonly used drugs in the drug treatment of type 2 diabetes in women are: Troglitazone, Pioglitazone and Rosiglitazone.

Insulin and diabetes

Insulin is an endogenous (internal secretion) hormone that regulates metabolic processes. Essentially, it is a conductor of glucose from food into the cells of the body. To ensure human life, insulin performs the following functions:

maintains normal blood glucose levels by inhibiting the breakdown of amino acids into simple sugars;
activates the production of proteins and prevents their breakdown;
participates in the formation of protective adipose tissue;
controls the accumulation of acetone bodies (ketones);
stimulates the production of glycogen (the body's energy resource).

Thus, if the pancreas produces insulin, and the body is not able to use it, the stability of the listed processes is disrupted. This condition characterizes the second type of diabetes mellitus. Over time, complex sugars accumulate, hyperglycemia (increased blood serum glucose levels) develops, and the pancreas stops producing the hormone. The body's need for insulin can only be satisfied through its artificial administration, and diabetes becomes an insulin-dependent form.

Signs in women over 40

After 40 years of age, there is a danger of developing both type 1 and type 2 disorders. The main reasons for developing this pathology are a sedentary lifestyle and overeating. The autoimmune system begins to attack the pancreas, where insulin is produced. It's not known why, but thin women have a higher risk of developing diabetes without actively developing symptoms.

Insulin injections are rarely required. The main focus of treatment is on a low carbohydrate diet. A healthy lifestyle will help support the body in the fight against the problem. The main thing is not to get caught up in unhealthy sweets and other temptations. Otherwise, all previous treatment will go to waste.

Diagnosis of the disease

Sugar levels are determined by a blood test. Today, two main methods are used. Laboratory biochemical analysis for glycated hemoglobin. The blood indicator reflects the average blood sugar level over a long period of time (from 2 to 3 months). Biological fluid is collected from a finger or a vein. Glucose tolerance test (load) or oral glucose tolerance test. It is a longer and more informative procedure.

Blood is drawn several times: on an empty stomach and after drinking water with glucose. This makes it possible to observe the dynamics of blood sugar behavior (decrease/increase). Based on the results of the analysis, a consultation with an endocrinologist is scheduled. During the perinatal period, a woman donates blood for sugar at least three times (once at each scheduled screening).

It is recommended to check your sugar levels annually. If you have a genetic predisposition to diabetes or obesity - twice a year

Prevention of the disease

Menstrual cycle

Prevention of diabetes in women involves complex actions. Preventive measures are carried out only for type 2 diabetes. Prevention does not help in the fight against type 1 diabetes.

The menstrual cycle at different stages is characterized by different hormonal levels in the female body. Hormone levels increase, and due to some hormones, the blood glucose level of a woman with diabetes decreases. With diabetes types 1 and 2 in women, glucose is at high levels for several days before the onset of menstruation. When the critical days are over, after 2-3 days the glucose will return to normal. After critical days appear, reduce the insulin dose by 1/5.

During menopause

During menopause, the hormone estrogen decreases in an adult woman. Increased sensitivity to insulin injections. The disease in menopausal women can progress to an exacerbation stage. When an insulin-dependent woman enters menopause, she experiences an increase in hypoglycemia. Over time, estrogen levels decrease. Insulin becomes less effective. During menopause, doctors advise frequently measuring blood sugar levels and accurately calculating the dose of insulin.

Gestational diabetes

The onset of gestational diabetes occurs in the 3rd–4th month of pregnancy. There is a change in hormonal levels in the female body, resulting in an increase in sugar levels. Every 20th pregnant woman suffers from this disease. During the postpartum period, blood sugar levels usually reach prenatal levels. But in the future, a woman with gestational diabetes will remain at risk of type 2 diabetes. The danger of the gestational type of disease is that the first signs of diabetes in women are easy to miss. Preventive measures for gestational diabetes are: a diet menu, insulin injections and moderate exercise.

Treatment of the disease

Having passed the necessary tests and visited a doctor, a woman may hear disappointing news, namely, confirmation of diabetes. Although the disease is unpleasant, it also leads to many complications, for example, angiopathy, retinopathy, nephropathy and others.

But a decent standard of living can be maintained with the help of medications prescribed by a doctor, following a diet and special nutritional rules.

For the most part, treatment of the disease is aimed specifically at following a diet, which is individually prepared by the attending physician. The patient receives from the specialist a list of permitted and prohibited products and a sample menu.

Minor signs

If your pancreas stops producing insulin, or your body stops accepting it, sooner or later this will lead to bad results.
For example, if your appetite increases due to illness, you start eating too much, which can adversely affect your weight. Obesity is known to be the biggest cause of most health problems. Secondary symptoms are:

Deterioration of visual function - incomprehensible images may appear before the eyes, or a veil may suddenly darken. People often find out that they have diabetes at an appointment with an ophthalmologist;
Fatigue, constant loss of strength, weakness - energy reserves are depleted and wasted quickly, so he does not have enough “food”. If performance has decreased sharply, this cannot be a positive thing;
The mucous membranes, including the vagina, are dry. Severe, incomprehensible itching may appear;
Cramps in the calves, legs and arms become numb or tingling due to poor circulation;
Ulcers appear, and any wounds on the body heal slowly. Even the simplest and smallest cut can bleed for a long time and even become inflamed;
Body temperature drops sharply – usually to 35 degrees;
Hair on the face grows too quickly, and on the legs, on the contrary, it falls out. It is worth sounding the alarm if such problems have not been observed before;
Pigment spots appear on the body;
Fungal diseases, especially of the genitals. Frequent vaginal thrush and other inflammatory and infectious processes should be especially alarming.

If a common cold takes longer to heal than usual, you may need to check your blood sugar levels.

Diabetes mellitus type 2: symptoms and signs of the disease

Diabetes mellitus symptoms in type 2:

The first sign is increased thirst. The volume of fluid consumption is more than 5 liters per day. In older people, severe thirst develops due to loss of sensitivity to thirst,
Nocturnal polyuria. Polyuria occurs due to strong filtration of glucose into urine, which increases urine pressure. The volume of excreted biological fluid is equal to the volume of fluid entering the body,
A sign is considered to be an increase in body weight,
Constant feeling of hunger and increased appetite. Great desire to eat foods high in sugar,
Fatigue of the body and weakness of the whole body. Increased fatigue and drowsiness after eating. This fatigue occurs due to a malfunction of metabolic processes and the accumulation of toxins,
Itching on the mucous membranes and genitals. After itching, microtraumas and erosions appear, which are very difficult to heal and the healing process takes quite a long time,
Neuropathy appears. Signs of neuropathy: numbness of the palms and feet, paresthesia of the lower extremities,
Cold hands and feet, rapid fatigue of the legs while walking,
Skin lesions, skin candidiasis, wounds that do not heal for a long time,
Periodontal disease, stomatitis with relapses of the disease,
Partial loss of vision, cataracts. These symptoms arise from high accumulation of glucose in the body,
Relapses of chronic forms of pyelonephritis, infectious diseases of the urinary system and genital area.

Signs of diabetes

Signs in women over 30

At this age, as a rule, type 1 develops, a rather severe autoimmune disease.
The development and manifestation of the disease occurs rapidly and most often does not depend on the lifestyle of the sick person. This type is considered hereditary. Its development is almost impossible to prevent. Acute symptoms and early signs for this type of disease:

nausea and vomiting,
numbness of the limbs,
smell of acetone from the mouth,
thirst and hunger.

If you have these signs, you should not hesitate to get tested in the laboratory. However, you can check your sugar level with a home glucometer. However, do not forget that such a check will not give you the complete picture.

Once you are diagnosed with diabetes, do not delay consulting your doctor. You will be prescribed a special diet and treatment that will help eliminate the severe course of the disease and protect you from disability.

Why does the disease appear?

The causes of diabetes mellitus depend on various factors, among which the following occupy a special place:

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Hereditary predisposition. Often triggered by the appearance of certain genes from the human DNA system. The risk of developing the disease is higher in those people who have close relatives with a similar pathology.

Changes in autoimmune processes. Today, such disorders are among the main causes of diabetes. They lead to the fact that the cells of the pancreas are affected and cease to perform their functions. This assumption is confirmed by the development of diseases such as Addison's disease, autoimmune thyroiditis, diffuse toxic goiter. Such pathologies can occur in diabetics 6 times more often than in a healthy person.

Violation of the structure of the pancreas of a viral nature. This pathology in most cases provokes the development of type 1 diabetes rather than type 2. Damage to pancreatic cells leads to the fact that insulin production stops or is not fully reproduced.

This theory is confirmed by the fact that diabetes, precisely because of the negative impact of viruses, more often occurs in the autumn-winter period.

The article “what is the danger of diabetes mellitus” will help you to take this disease more seriously, in which we outlined in detail the consequences if the disease is left unattended.

Toxic effects. They consist of:

Cell damage occurs due to chemically negative agents.
Negative effects of food colorings.
Exposure to preservatives containing nitroso compounds.
Alcohol poisoning (most often has a negative impact on men's health).
Medicines used to treat allergies (glucocorticoids).
Nicotinic acid can also cause diabetes.
Thiazide.
A-interferon.

Poor nutrition often causes the development of type 2 diabetes. In particular, this applies to the consumption of fatty, spicy and fried foods, processed foods and fast food. Such foods contribute to weight gain, which in turn provokes diabetes.

In addition to food, physical activity is important. If it is not enough, then obesity develops, which increases the chances of being diagnosed with diabetes.

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Stressful situations and nervous strain contribute to a decrease in insulin production. Quite often, diabetes can be diagnosed after a severe fright.

The presence of pathological changes in the structure of the pancreas.

The development of gestational diabetes occurs only in pregnant women. This is caused by a disruption in the production of certain hormones. Chromosome diseases.

The most common signs

The most common are those that can be called natural, that is, it is their presence that is usually characterized by diabetes:

Thirst. If the body begins to have an excess of glucose, it needs more fluid;
Frequent urination, as a result of frequent and increased fluid intake, as well as impaired renal function, which is usually a consequence of diabetes;
Sudden weight loss, or, conversely, weight gain for unknown reasons. You can quickly lose weight, even 15 kg;
Cramps, itching and tingling in the muscles;
Thrush and other fungal diseases.

How not to confuse the symptoms of diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus You will learn from the video

It is also worth highlighting the first signs of diabetes in girls . In particular, irregularities in the menstrual cycle and deviations from the schedule may begin.

How to avoid pathology?

The disease does not pose a direct threat to the patient’s life, which cannot be said about complications of diabetes. Is it possible to prevent the development of pathology, and what needs to be done for this.

To do this, you need to know which representatives of the fair sex are at risk, and what exactly will help overcome the likely development of the disease.

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If one or both parents have a history of diabetes, their child is at high risk of this disease. Overweight women with diabetic heredity are at risk.

Generally speaking, the following women are at high risk of developing diabetes:

If you have a history of hypertension, atherosclerotic changes in blood vessels.
Women who were diagnosed with gestational diabetes while pregnant. And also those who gave birth to a child over 4 kg.
Women with a history of pathological pregnancy, as a result of which a stillborn child was born.

Unfortunately, it is very difficult to avoid a sugar disease with negative heredity; it can only be postponed indefinitely. However, if nothing is done, the disease “will soon come in all its glory.”

A few recommendations:

The first tip to help prevent pathology is to maintain an active lifestyle. Sedentary work must be compensated by sports, walking, and active recreation.
The second piece of advice is your diet, which is recommended to be radically revised. You need to give up alcoholic beverages, confectionery, sweets, flour and fatty foods. The main credo is only healthy food.

If you pay attention in time to the predisposing factors leading to the development of the disease, you can take the appropriate preventive measures described above. It is important to control your blood sugar.

Definitely, no one can guarantee that diabetes will not occur. But better late than too early.

What do you think about this? Share your tips and observations to enrich the review!