How Diabetes Affects Women

Diabetes in women is a chronic condition that affects how your body metabolizes food. It occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or when the cells in your body do not react appropriately to insulin. Insulin is a hormone - it makes blood sugar go from high to low levels after eating foods that contain carbohydrates and sugar.

Without insulin, glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells as fuel for energy for your muscles, organs and brain. The most common form of diabetes is type 2 diabetes - which used to be called adult-onset diabetes because it typically developed as people aged or became overweight with middle-age spread (apple shaped).

There are many physical aspects of diabetes, however research studies have shown that there are also mental and emotional aspects to the disease that should not be overlooked. Diabetes in Women goes through and discusses these aspects, as well as the specific challenges faced by women who have diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes Symptoms in Women

Type 1 diabetes in women is a condition where a person’s pancreas is unable to produce insulin, so they must inject insulin on a daily basis.

Type 1 diabetes symptoms in women can be different than Type 1 diabetes symptoms in men because of the difference in hormones. Women are also typically diagnosed when they're older and have been living with diabetes for longer than males. This means that it may take longer for them to recognize that there is something wrong and get treatment. It's important to understand Type 1 diabetes symptoms in Women so that it can be treated as soon as possible.

Type 1 diabetes signs and symptoms may include:

Unintended weight loss
Fatigue and weakness
Increased thirst
Bed-wetting in children who previously didn't wet the bed
Extreme hunger
Frequent urination
Some people may experience irritability, mood changes, or both.
Blurred vision

Prevention and Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes in Women

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system destroys insulin-producing cells of the pancreas.

This section gives a brief overview of the prevention and treatment options that are available for type 1 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system destroys insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. Type 1 diabetes can be prevented by avoiding factors that may trigger an autoimmune reaction such as certain viruses and allergies, but there is no way to prevent it entirely yet. Treatment consists of injecting insulin several times a day, counting carbohydrates, and restricting sugar intake.

Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms in Women

Type 2 diabetes symptoms in women are different from those in men, but can be equally dangerous.

Type 2 diabetes is a disease that affects both men and women, yet the symptoms of the disease present differently in each gender. Women tend to have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes due to hormonal changes which make it difficult for them to control their blood sugar levels. While often overlooked by physicians, type 2 diabetes symptoms in women are just as important to monitor as they are for men.

Signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes may include:

Slow-healing sores
Frequent infections
Increased thirst
Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
Frequent urination
Increased hunger
Dark patches of skin, usually found in the armpits and neck
Unintended weight loss
Fatigue
Blurred vision

Prevention and Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes in Women

Type 2 diabetes is a disease that can be prevented and treated.

Women are considered more susceptible to Type 2 diabetes than men. This is because they show symptoms of the disease at an earlier age, with a less healthy lifestyle, and have less built up resistance to the diseases.

Different factors contribute to Type 2 diabetes in women. These factors include genetics, obesity, pregnancy and childbirth complications, hormonal changes during perimenopause or menopause and gestational diabetes.

In addition to these reasons there are other risk factors for type 2 diabetes in women such as lack of exercise, high intake of sugary drinks or inadequate levels of dietary fiber.

Prevention involves maintaining a healthy weight for height, regular physical activity and eating plenty of nutritious foods such as whole grains, vegetables and fruits

The Effects of Menopause on Woman with Diabetes

Menopause has a significant effect on the diabetes of woman.

We should be aware that menopause can increase a woman's risk for developing diabetes. This is because the hormonal changes during this period can cause weight gain and other health problems that may lead to diabetes or make it worse. Women may need to adjust their treatment during this period in order to control their blood glucose levels.

Medications for type 1 diabetes

Insulin

Insulin is commonly used in the treatment of type 1 diabetes. If you have type 1 diabetes, your body can't produce insulin. The goal of therapy involves providing an external source for the insulin that your body needs.

Insulin is also used in type 2 diabetes treatment. It’s given by injection and comes in different types. The type of insulin you need depends on how severe your insulin depletion is. For example, if you are not able to produce enough of the hormone your doctor will prescribe a drug called Metformin which can increase sensitivity to insulin and regulate the blood sugar levels.

Short-acting insulin

regular insulin (Humulin and Novolin)

Rapid-acting insulins

insulin lispro (Humalog)
insulin aspart (NovoLog, FlexPen, Fiasp)
insulin glulisine (Apidra)

Intermediate-acting insulin

insulin isophane (Humulin N, Novolin N)

Long-acting insulins

insulin glargine (Lantus)
insulin degludec (Tresiba)
insulin detemir (Levemir)
insulin glargine (Toujeo)

Combination insulins

NovoLog Mix 70/30
Humalog Mix 75/25
Humalog Mix 50/50
Humulin 70/30
Novolin 70/30
Ryzodeg

Amylinomimetic drug

Pramlintide (SymlinPen 120, SymlinPen 60) is an amylinomimetic drug. It’s used by injecting it before a meal.

It works by delaying your stomach emptying time and reducing glucagon secretion. This can lower your pre-diabetes and diabetes cholesterol levels.

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Medications for type 2 diabetes

If you have type II diabetes, your blood sugar levels are high because your body can no longer use insulin properly. Treatment is needed to make your body better at using insulin or to remove excess sugar from the blood.

Most type 2 diabetes medicines are taken orally but some people may need to take an injection too. High blood sugar may also mean that you might need supplemental insulin.

Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors

These medication help you break down starches & sugars. This lowers your blood sugar levels.

You should take these drugs before meals which include:

acarbose (Precose)
miglitol (Glyset)

Biguanides

Biguanides are a type of drug often used to treat diabetes. They affect how your liver works and decrease the amount of sugar your intestines will absorb, which impacts how sensitive you are towards insulin. They also improve the way glucose is absorbed by muscles in your body. The most commonly used biguanide is metformin (Glucophage, Metformin).

Metformin is used by individuals with type 2 diabetes. It can also be combined with other medications to increase its effectivity. The following medications may contain it:

metformin-alogliptin (Kazano)
metformin-canagliflozin (Invokamet)
metformin-dapagliflozin (Xigduo XR)
metformin-empagliflozin (Synjardy)
metformin-glipizide
metformin-glyburide (Glucovance)
metformin-linagliptin (Jentadueto)
metformin-pioglitazone (Actoplus)
metformin-repaglinide (PrandiMet)
metformin-rosiglitazone (Avandamet)
metformin-saxagliptin (Kombiglyze XR)
metformin-sitagliptin (Janumet)

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Please call Superior Compounding Pharmacy in Plymouth Michigan to speak with one of our licensed pharmacists today at 734-404-6065. We can help answer any medication questions that you may have.

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Diabetes in Women