Diabetes is a serious health condition that plagues many people in the United States. A staggering number of people afflicted with the disease are women. Yet, diabetes and its symptoms still go primarily unaddressed by many healthcare professionals. This leaves many women dealing with the condition entirely in the dark.
While diabetes may be challenging to manage, it is not impossible. It is often manageable with a healthy diet and regular exercise. You can control diabetes and maintain a healthy lifestyle with these seven things in mind.
1. Diabetes Affects Women Differently Than Men
Some symptoms of diabetes are universal. But other signs are more pronounced in women than men.
Many of the symptoms associated with diabetes can be confused with other ailments. Women with diabetes may not recognize when they are experiencing these symptoms. They may think it’s related to another health condition they have. As such, women at high risk for diabetes should be especially aware of any changes in their bodies.
2. Women With Diabetes Require Regular Exams and Screenings
Female patients with diabetes may develop complications involving their reproductive system. Another issue that women face is bacterial vaginosis that they can deal with by Probiotics for bacterial vaginosis.
More common complications include heart disease, vision problems, and nerve damage. When visiting your healthcare provider, ask whether you need a screening checklist. A checklist can help you to keep track of any potential issues.
3. Pregnant Women Are at High Risk for Developing Diabetes
Women who are pregnant, especially in the third trimester, should be especially aware of the symptoms of diabetes. They need to be diligent about their blood sugar levels. And they should ask their healthcare provider about ways to decrease their risk. This is true for all women, as the condition can often be prevented if caught early.
4. Healthcare Professionals May Not Recognize Symptoms
Women may be less likely than men to detect and report various symptoms. Sometimes, it’s hard to know it’s diabetes because they are less pronounced. Healthcare professionals also tend to notice these symptoms much later. Unfortunately, women often attribute the warning signs to other ailments, such as PMS.
5. Diabetes Causes Other Health Problems
Many people with diabetes develop complications often related to other conditions. A few of these conditions include high blood pressure and cholesterol issues. Because many women have these conditions, they need to watch for symptoms. They need to have visits with health professionals. That way, they can get checked for high blood sugar levels and any additional concerns.
6. Using Cannabis Lowers the Risk of Getting Diabetes
According to a growing body of research, cannabis may help reduce women’s likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes. Researchers reported the findings in the Journal of the American Heart Association at the International Symposium on Cannabis and Cardiovascular Disease in Denver.
Researchers found that marijuana users had a median level of 11.5 percent lower fasting insulin levels than non-users. This could be good news for women who want to avoid the risks associated with diabetes.
Veriheal further dives into the research concerning women with diabetes and cannabis.
7. Women Are More Susceptible to Diabetes as They Age
As women get older, they become incredibly susceptible to diabetes. Many women struggle with age-related ailments, including diabetes and other serious conditions.
Women over the age of 40 are at a much greater risk than you might think. For example, women diagnosed with diabetes may not realize that they have it due to menopause. In addition, other health conditions affiliated with age may also cause diabetes.
Women must be especially vigilant about watching for symptoms. They must take their health into their hands to prevent diabetes down the road.
Keep In Mind: It’s Harder to Manage the Longer Someone Has It
Diabetes becomes harder to manage as it gets worse. People diagnosed with diabetes later are more likely to have complications. These complications may include nerve damage, heart disease, and kidney failure.
Women can manage diabetes, but it can take some time. Ideally, one should avoid getting diabetes altogether by making health a priority.
Conclusion
There are many misconceptions surrounding diabetes, especially for women. As such, healthcare professionals may need to rethink how to educate patients better. Understanding the signs and symptoms to get early treatment is vital.
Women need to be especially aware of the warning signs. If they suspect something’s off in their body, they should let their healthcare provider know. Scheduling regular examinations and screenings with their doctors can help them prevent diabetes.
