Diabetes has unique early warning signs in women, including frequent vaginal infections, inability to lose weight and fatigue. Avoid these and other symptoms with Dr. Ruchi Mathur’s tips in Ask The Doctor, a new women's health video series, produced in partnership with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center...
Women who have recurrent yeast infections or are unable to lose weight despite dieting have something in common: They may have prediabetes, a precursor to type 2 diabetes.
Even polycystic ovarian syndrome, a condition that causes multiple cysts on ovaries, can signal prediabetes, says endocrinologist Ruchi Mathur, M.D., Director, Diabetes Outpatient Treatment and Education Center, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles.
Prediabetes, a condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal, increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes within a decade, she explains.
People with diabetes in their family history are 26% more likely to develop the metabolic disorder, according to 2013 German study of 8,000 people. The risk may be higher if they’re overweight (with a BMI greater than 25) and sedentary, Dr. Mathur warns.
“Genetics are quite a significant factor,” but so is lifestyle, she says.
Other risk factors for prediabetes include:
Being older than 45
Being of African-American, Hispanic, American Indian, Pacific Islander or Asian descent
Many women with prediabetes often have no obvious symptoms. Some may notice increased thirst, more frequent urination and unusual fatigue – a feeling of exhaustion that doesn’t go away no matter how much you sleep.
Other symptoms of prediabetes may include:
Irregular menstrual periods in younger women
Difficulty losing weight
Blurred vision
But women with prediabetes can prevent developing type 2 diabetes in the future. For example, diet, exercise and medications can control the condition, Dr. Mathur says.
Because prediabetics are always at risk for developing type 2 diabetes if they gain weight or don’t eat properly or get enough aerobic exercise, managing the disorder is a lifelong effort.
“If you implement a good, strong, relatively long-term lifestyle program, you can make a big difference in the development of type 2 diabetes if you’re at risk,” Dr. Mathur says.
Among her recommendations:
Lose weight, if you’re overweight. Losing even 10%-15% of body weight can return blood glucose levels to the normal range. Follow a nutritional weight-loss plan developed by a physician and/or dietitian that recommends several smaller meals during the day.
Get regular checkups so that you and your doctor can monitor progress and reevaluate medications.
For some patients, medication, such as metformin, will be needed to reduce blood sugar levels.
Metformin “prevents the liver from releasing sugar and helps the body be more sensitive to insulin, so [your] insulin works better and the [blood sugar] levels can drop,” Dr. Mathur says.
If you’re at risk for developing diabetes or have any symptoms of prediabetes, make an appointment to see your doctor or a diabetes specialist.
If a family member has diabetes, ask your doctor to include a blood glucose screening at your next checkup, Dr. Mathur advises. You may need a glucose tolerance or insulin resistance test too, she says.
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