Diabetes Symptoms in Men & Women

India is home to about 77 million diabetics, which is the second-highest in the world, albeit, unfortunately (source: 1). Today, the prevalence of this disease poses a major health problem for the country.

However, adequate knowledge about the illness can help you take the necessary measures to keep your health in check. After all, prevention is better than cure.

So, here is a guide on diabetes symptoms in men and women.

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when one’s blood glucose (or blood sugar) is very high. Blood glucose, which comes from the food we eat, is the main source of our energy. This glucose from food gets into the cells of a body to be used as energy by a hormone called insulin. 

However, sometimes the body cannot make enough – or any – of this hormone. Moreover, it may happen that one’s body produces insulin but does not use it well. Whatever the case may be, inadequate insulin leaves your body with too much glucose, which eventually leads to health complications.

There are 3 main types of diabetes, all of which are discussed below:

Type 1 Diabetes

This type of diabetes indicates that an individual’s body produces very little to no insulin. Rather, their immune system destroys the cells in one’s pancreas, thereby stopping them from making insulin.

As a result, patients with type 1 diabetes need to take daily insulin injections to maintain their blood glucose levels. Although it can develop at any age, mostly adolescents and children show the early symptoms of sugar of this type.

Type 2 Diabetes

Contrary to type 1 diabetes, type 2 is more common in adults. In fact, type 2 diabetes accounts for about 90% of all cases (source: 2). 

When you have this type of diabetes, your body fails to use the insulin it produces. Therefore, you will need oral drugs and/or insulin to control your blood glucose levels.

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes or GDM develops in some women during pregnancy. It tends to go away after a baby is born. However, women affected with GDM as well as their children have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in their life.

Diabetes is a disease that affects women and men in different ways. The reasons for this difference are the following:

• Different hormones and inflammations in men and women
• Women tend to have varied types of heart diseases than men
• Some of the complications of sugar in women can be more difficult to diagnose
• Women generally receive less aggressive treatment for diabetes-related conditions and cardiovascular risk factors

That being said, both the sexes share some common symptoms of this disease. Several early diabetes symptoms in men and women act as a warning sign. Therefore, it is suggested that you keep an out for these signs to tackle the disease in its early stages.

Early Symptoms of Diabetes in Women

The starting stage of diabetes symptoms for women can include the following:

• Increased hunger and thirst
• Mood swings
• Fruity breath sugar patient
• Diminished vision
• Frequent urination
• Unexplained weight changes
• Extreme tiredness and fatigue
• Slow healing of wounds
• Female sexual dysfunction
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
• Yeast infections
• Urinary tract infection (UTI)

Early Symptoms of Diabetes in Men

In the case of men, some warning signs are similar to those for women. Therefore, men must look out for the following starting stage of sugar symptoms:

• Frequent urination
• Tingling sensation in feet or hands
• Slow healing of wounds
• Lethargy or a fatigued feeling
• Excessive thirst
• Increased hunger
• Blurred vision
• Unexplained weight loss
• Retrograde ejaculation
• Genital thrush
• Reduced muscle mass
• Erectile dysfunction (ED)

Prediabetes Symptoms in Men and Women

Furthermore, when talking about the early diabetes symptoms in men and women, you must also be aware of prediabetes. It is a health condition in which one’s blood sugar levels are higher than normal. However, these levels are not high enough for the individual to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. That being said, without necessary lifestyle changes, children and adults with prediabetes are extremely likely to develop type 2 diabetes.

Furthermore, there are no clear prediabetes symptoms in women and men. Some patients may experience conditions associated with insulin resistance, like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Others, however, may experience acanthosis nigricans, which is the development of thick, dark, and velvety patches of skin. This discolouration tends to occur around the following body parts:

• Armpits
• Elbows
• Neck
• Knees
• Knuckles

Additionally, when suffering from prediabetes, patients usually experience the following:

• An increase in thirst
• Frequent urination, especially during the night
• Cuts or sores that will not heal
• Loss of energy, tiredness, or fatigue
• Blurry vision

Many diabetes symptoms in women are the same as those in men. Moreover, a few of these symptoms are similar to the early symptoms of sugar. Therefore, here are some signs that may point to diabetes:

• Sudden and unexplained weight loss
• Increased thirst 
• Persistent hunger (especially after eating)
• Frequent urination
• Nausea and occasional vomiting 
• Numbness or tingling of feet and hands
• Presence of ketones in the urine (ketones are substances that a body makes when it breaks down fat and muscle in an absence or lack of insulin)
• Extremely low energy
• Irritability
• Blurred vision
• Frequent infections in gums or skin

Additionally, some signs of diabetes are unique to women. Such symptoms of diabetes in women include the following:

• Vaginal or oral yeast infections
• Vaginal thrush
• Urinary infections
• Female sexual dysfunction
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome

Similarly, a man must check for these additional symptoms of diabetes in men:

• Low testosterone (low-T)
• Erectile dysfunction (ED or impotence)
• Decreased libido or sex drive
• Retrograde ejaculation

Yes, age is a factor for the onset of this disease. Type 1 diabetes sets in at any age. An individual with type 1 diabetes tends to be diagnosed with this disease before 40 years of age.

However, type 1 diabetes was earlier known as juvenile diabetes as most people affected by it were young children. A child can get type 1 diabetes as early as his/her infancy. Most often, this disease appears after the age of 5 years, occurring in kids between the age of 4 and 14 years old.

On the other hand, type 2 diabetes used to be called adult-onset diabetes as it rarely occurs in children. Rather, the older you are, the more likely it is that you have this disease.

Although it can occur in teenagers and preteens, type 2 diabetes usually starts to spike in one’s middle age. Therefore, individuals aged between 45 and 64 years of age are more vulnerable to this illness. Furthermore, it jumps even higher as one approaches senior years, affecting people aged 65 years or older.

As discussed earlier, there are several tell-tale diabetes symptoms in men and women. However, how can you know if your child has type 1 diabetes? Symptoms of diabetes in children and infants can set in suddenly. Therefore, you must check for the following signs in your child:

• Sudden change in behaviour (acting strange or “drunk”)
• Breath that smells sweet, fruity, or wine-like
• A drop in energy
• Extreme drowsiness
• Intense and ongoing thirst
• A sudden change in vision
• Difficulty breathing
• Heavy breathing
• Breathing has a “grunting noise”
• Huge appetite
• Unexplained and sudden weight loss
• Extremely frequent urination (toddlers and infants may have wetter diapers than usual)

If you notice the initial symptoms of diabetes in your child or yourself, it is imperative to seek medical assistance at the earliest. Therefore, we suggest that you reach out to a doctor, so that he/she can begin treatment before the disease aggravates.

Likewise, women must undergo routine tests for gestational diabetes during the second or third trimester of their pregnancy. And, in case they show symptoms of this diabetes, they should get a diagnosis. 

To diagnose one with diabetes, a doctor may prescribe a simple test to check the presence of glucose or sugar in the urine. Additionally, he/she will examine your blood glucose levels by way of a finger stick. Furthermore, in some cases, doctors may conduct a more thorough evaluation through an oral glucose tolerance test, which can show if you have type 1 diabetes.

As for treatment, doctors generally prescribe a few different medications, which include oral drugs and injections. Moreover, insulin is the main form of treatment for type 1 diabetes.

There are 4 kinds of insulin commonly used in treatment, which are differentiated based on when their effects kick in and how long they last:

• Long-lasting insulin: Takes a few hours after injection to start working and lasts for at least 24 hours.
• Intermediate-acting insulin: Works within 1-2 hours of injection and its effects last for up to 18 hours.
• Short-acting insulin: Begins to show effects within 30 minutes of injection and lasts for 6-8 hours.
• Rapid-action insulin: Starts working within 15 minutes, with its effects lasting for 3-4 hours.

Food

• Ensure accurate carbohydrate count and proper portion size.
• Always remember that some sources of carbohydrates are better than others are. Go for low-carb, high-fibre food, such as fruits, vegetables, and grains.
• Plan every meal so that they have a good mix of starches, fats, and proteins. 
• Coordinate meals with medications. Ensure that you do not consume too little or too much food, as both can drastically alter blood sugar levels.
• Strictly avoid sugar until experiencing low blood sugar.
• Alcohol can aggravate diabetes, so it is best if you avoid it.
• Quit smoking.

Exercise

• Consult your doctor and curate an exercise plan. Generally, adults should get a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity in a week. So, aim for 30 minutes of low-intensity workout for most days in a week.
• Maintain a workout schedule so that it aligns with your meals and medications.
• Check blood sugar levels before, during, and after you exercise. Be aware of the symptoms of low blood sugar and skip your workout if you experience them.
• Stay hydrated by drinking water and other fluids while working, as dehydration affects blood sugar levels.

Stress

• Try to manage stress as it can cause a spike in blood sugar levels.
• Opt for relaxation techniques and meditation to reduce stress.

Medication

• Make sure to store insulin properly as it is sensitive to changes in temperature.
• Talk to your doctor if your blood sugar level is consistently too high or drops too low so that he/she can modify their dosage or timing.
• Always seek professional advice on medications. Do not opt for over-the-counter drugs when experiencing diabetes symptoms in men/women.

Yes, diabetes can lead to other diseases. In fact, the longer you have this illness, the less controlled is your blood sugar, and the graver is its complications. Eventually, diabetes-induced health complications can be disabling, even life-threatening, some of which are:

• Nerve damage or neuropathy
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Eye damage or retinopathy
• Foot problems
• Kidney damage or nephropathy
• Hearing impairment
• Skin conditions
• Depression
• Alzheimer’s disease

Type 1 diabetes can cause abrupt and extreme swings in blood sugar, which can be very dangerous. Therefore, if you notice any of its symptoms in your child or yourself, it is imperative to reach out to a doctor as soon as you can. This will ensure that your treatment begins right away.

Furthermore, low blood sugar can be life-threatening for children. Therefore, you must seek immediate medical assistance if you notice these signs of a low blood pressure emergency:

• Cold and clammy skin
• Blurry or double vision
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Tiredness or drowsiness
• Sudden or extreme hunger
• Pale and moist skin
• Headache
• Rapid pulse
• Abnormal sweating
• Extreme weakness
• Shallow breathing
• Fainting or seizures 

As for type 2 and gestational diabetes, it is best to consult a doctor as soon as the symptoms set in.

Disclaimer: The above information is only for educational purposes. It is not intended to be a substitute for a professional diagnosis. We suggest that you seek medical advice from a doctor for a thorough evaluation of your health.

That brings us to the end of this guide on diabetes. We hope it offers valuable insights into the disease, its symptoms, and its treatment.