All ages are subject to diabetes, but most often the disease makes itself felt after 45 years.

Many risk factors for diabetes in women and men coincide, but there are significant differences.

How not to admit illness to itself and in time to recognize it - this will be discussed in our article by American experts.

Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes:.

• Overweight and obesity.

• High blood pressure.

• Inadequate level of physical activity.

• Violation of lipid metabolism, dyslipidemia.

• Diseases associated with insulin resistance.

• Belonging to a particular race, nationality.

• Family predisposition to diabetes.

• Increased sugar in the past Age, sex and diabetes.

There is a purely female disease that prevents the body from effectively using insulin - a syndrome of polycystic ovaries, or PCOS. With this syndrome, not only the reproductive function is violated, but also the metabolic processes in the female body.

Another unique risk factor for women is the birth of a child weighing more than 9 pounds (4 kg). How this is related to diabetes in the future remains at the level of hypotheses.

According to the National Institutes of Health, about one third of women with type 2 diabetes are unaware of their illness. That's why doctors and scientists strongly recommend that all women, as well as men, regularly check sugar after 45 years.

We hasten to reassure: men suffer from diabetes more often than women. The reason for this "injustice" also remains a mystery. Perhaps, men just keep less weight and shape.

If we compare men and women of young and middle age, the risk of cardiovascular events associated with diabetes in men is higher. But as soon as women step over the menopause, this risk is gradually leveled off.

Some symptoms of diabetes in women:.

• Excessive weakness and fatigue.

• Severe thirst and frequent urination.

• Hunger combined with unexplained weight loss.

• Frequent vaginal, skin infections, gingivitis.

• Decreased libido and sexual activity.

• Long healing of minor abrasions, cuts.

• Gradual deterioration in vision. Complications of diabetes in women.

The presence of type 2 diabetes mellitus significantly increases the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke in women. In addition, this disease reduces libido, increases predisposition to vaginal candidiasis and infections, reduces vaginal lubrication.

Over time, frustrated glucose metabolism causes damage to the walls of blood vessels, makes them more severe and increases the risk of coronary heart disease, heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, dental and ophthalmic problems.

The next victim of diabetes is the nerves all over your body. And damage to the peripheral nerves plus diseased arteries is equal to diabetic ulcers, up to amputation.

Diabetes mellitus type 2 increases the risk of many chronic diseases, pregnancy complications, early disability and independence, depressive disorders.

Recent research shows that the earlier diabetes develops, the more serious complications can arise in the end. This is due to the fact that the disease takes many years to destroy your blood vessels, nerves, kidneys, retina and other organs.

What is gestational diabetes?.

Gestational diabetes (a diabetes of pregnant women) - though also temporary, but it is far not the harmless condition leaving the trace and raising probability of a diabetes of 2nd type in the subsequent years.

Often, gestational diabetes is asymptomatic, so future moms need to constantly see a doctor and take blood tests.

Risk Factors for Gestational Diabetes:.

• Excess body weight before conception.

Presence of pre-diabetes (slightly elevated sugar).

• Diabetes mellitus type 2 in close relatives.

• Belonging to the peoples of Africa, India, East Asia.

• Gestational diabetes, confirmed with past pregnancy.

• Birth of large children or unexplained stillbirth in the past Pregnancy and diabetes.

American doctors have long considered the presence of type 2 diabetes in women a serious obstacle that can prevent the birth of a healthy child. Thanks to the technologies of modern medicine everything is possible, but certain difficulties and risks remain.

First, you need to strictly control your sugar before conception of the child, when you just think about replenishing the family. Increased sugar can disrupt the normal development of the embryo and fetus, causing congenital malformations. This is especially true in the very first weeks after conception, when you are not yet aware of your situation.

Secondly, a pregnant woman with diabetes should work closely with her doctor all the time. The regimen of taking medications, tests, diet, safe exercise - all this should be kept in check. Beforehand, you should ask whether you need to change the drugs.

Menopause and diabetes.

Menopause and associated reorganization of the female body very often affect the course of diabetes, and also adds certain risks:.

• Hormonal changes disrupt the response of cells to insulin. The organism absorbs glucose worse, in connection with which its level becomes less predictable.

• Decreased estrogen production contributes to vaginal dryness, in combination with diabetes, the risk of fungal and bacterial infections.

• Damage to nerves in diabetes can disrupt the innervation of the vagina: as a result, sexual life becomes a difficult and undesirable "duty".

• Menopause-related weight gain may require correction of insulin dose and oral hypoglycemic drugs in order to adapt to changes.

• Sleep disturbance (a symptom of menopause) often causes women to break the habitual way of life, leads to unplanned trips to the refrigerator and overeating.

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