Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects 10.5% of the U.S. population, over 34 million people. 1.5 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes every year. According to the World Health Organization, the worldwide number of people diagnosed with diabetes rose from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million in 2014. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website states that in the last 20 years, the number of adults diagnosed with diabetes has nearly doubled. Both health organizations agree that diabetes remains a major health crisis across the globe.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that affects the way the body turns food into energy. It occurs when the body either does not make sufficient insulin (the hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar levels) or does not efficiently use the insulin it produces. Type 1 diabetes is thought to be an autoimmune disorder, wherein the pancreas is attacked by the body’s own cells, rendering it unable to produce insulin. Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, involves high insulin levels caused by genetics, obesity, physical inactivity, metabolic syndrome and other conditions. Type 2 diabetes results in a gradual resistance to insulin, which means that over time, although the body continues to produce insulin, it becomes less and less able to use the insulin properly. 95% of the people who suffer from diabetes have type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes in women
Diabetes affects men and women differently. On one hand, men develop diabetes at twice the rate that women do. On the other hand, women are at a higher risk of diabetes-related complications, including heart disease, kidney disease, stroke, blindness, and depression. One reason for this may be that the high blood sugar associated with diabetes reduces the protective effects of the female hormones, resulting in health complications.
Diabetes and depression affect women particularly hard. Women are nearly twice as likely to experience depression as men, likely due to hormonal factors and the additional stresses of balancing work life with the responsibilities of raising children or caring for aging parents. And since women are more prone to diabetes-related complications, women with diabetes are also more likely to develop depression.
Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy in women who do not already have diabetes. It can make delivery more difficult and cause premature birth or even miscarriage or stillbirth. While 50% of women return to normal blood sugar levels after giving birth, the other 50% go on to develop Type 2 diabetes. Their babies are also at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
General symptoms of diabetes in men and women
Diabetes causes the same general symptoms in both men and women. These include:
- Constant thirst
- Frequent urination
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Blurry vision
- Weight loss
- Numb or tingling hands and feet
- Dry skin
- Frequent infections
- Slow-healing sores
- Mood swings
- Tender gums
Men and women share many of the same symptoms of diabetes, but women are also prone to developing additional symptoms that men do not.
Symptoms, warning signs, and complications of diabetes particular to women
In addition to the above symptoms of diabetes that affect both women and men, there are other signs and symptoms of diabetes particular to women. These include:
- Vaginal yeast infections – due to an overproduction of candida yeast in the vagina caused by an imbalance of insulin.
- Sexual dysfunction – including painful intercourse, lack of sex drive, and difficulty achieving orgasm.
- Urinary tract infections – potentially caused by sugar in the blood and urine, poor circulation, nerve damage, or impaired immune response.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) – a disorder characterized by high levels of androgen and linked to insulin resistance.
As mentioned earlier, women with diabetes are also more likely than men to develop depression, heart disease, kidney disease, and other diabetes-related complications.
Diabetes research study in San Diego
At Synergy Research Center, we’re currently enrolling participants for a diabetes research study in San Diego. Eligible participants are 18 or older and are able to participate in a 12-week clinical trial that includes 5 visits to our research facility. For more information on our diabetes research trial or any of our other current studies, please give us a call at (888) 539-0282 or fill out our contact form today.