Diabetes is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high levels of blood glucose — also known as blood sugar — due to problems making or using the hormone insulin. Your body needs insulin to make and use energy from the carbohydrates you consume.

There are three common types:

• Type 1 diabetes: Your body can’t make insulin due to autoimmune dysfunction.
• Type 2 diabetes: This is the most common and occurs when your body is unable to properly use insulin.
• Gestational diabetes: This is caused by pregnancy.

Diabetes can affect people with any lifestyle and of any age, race, ethnic group, sex, or gender. The condition can often have more serious effects on women when compared to men.

A 2019 literature review looked at the link between diabetes and poor health outcomes in well over 5.1 million people across 49 studies. Researchers found when compared to men with diabetes, women with diabetes experienced:

Read on to learn more about diabetes in women.

Women and men with diabetes may experience many of the same symptoms.

However, some symptoms are unique to women. Understanding these symptoms may help you identify diabetes and get treatment for it early.

Hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar levels, can trigger the growth of fungus.

An overgrowth of yeast caused by the Candida fungus can result in vaginal or oral yeast infections. These common infections are also known as thrush.

When an infection develops in the vaginal area, symptoms can include:

Oral yeast infections often cause a white coating on the tongue and inside the mouth.

The risk is higher in women who have diabetes. UTIs are common in this group mainly because hyperglycemia compromises the immune system.

UTIs can cause:

Diabetic neuropathy may also affect sensation in the vaginal area, leading to symptoms like vaginal dryness.

It can occur when a woman produces a high amount of androgens (male hormones) and has certain risk factors, such as a family history of PCOS. In one study, researchers found that the main androgens involved in PCOS are testosterone and androstenedione.

Symptoms of PCOS include:

PCOS is also associated with a type of insulin resistance that elevates blood sugar levels and increases your risk of developing diabetes. Insulin resistance may be either a symptom or a cause of PCOS.

You may wonder if pregnancy is safe if you have pregestational diabetes.

You can certainly have a healthy pregnancy after getting a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes. However, it’s important to manage your condition before and during pregnancy to avoid complications.

Your blood sugar levels and general health need to be tracked before and during pregnancy. Talk with your doctor about the best ways to manage your and your baby’s health.

If you’re planning to get pregnant, it’s best to get your blood sugar levels as close to your target range as possible beforehand. Your target blood sugar ranges when pregnant may be different from the ranges when you’re not pregnant.

When you’re pregnant, blood sugar and ketones travel through the placenta to the baby. Babies require energy from sugar just like you do, but they’re at risk for congenital abnormalities if your blood sugar levels are too high.

Transferring high blood sugar to unborn babies puts them at risk for:

Gestational diabetes occurs when people begin to have high blood sugar during pregnancy. It’s different from type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Gestational diabetes affects almost 10% of pregnancies in the United States, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA).

Pregnancy hormones interfere with the way insulin works, causing the body to make more insulin. For some people, this still isn’t enough insulin, and they develop gestational diabetes.

Gestational diabetes often develops later in pregnancy. Your doctor may test you for it between weeks 24 and 28. For most people, gestational diabetes goes away after pregnancy.

Most people with type 1 diabetes develop the condition in childhood. Risk factors include having a parent or sibling with the condition. Coming from a cold climate may also raise your risk.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services’s Office on Women’s Health, you’re at risk for type 2 diabetes if you:

Researchers are still exploring the exact reasons why some ethnic and racial groups have a higher risk of type 2 diabetes.

Possible factors may include but aren’t limited to:

• biological risk factors, such as weight status and the location of fat deposits on the body
• lack of access to healthcare
• inequities in healthcare
• socioeconomic status or other social determinants of health
• differences in health beliefs toward diabetes prevention
• historical mistrust of the healthcare system

There’s no cure for diabetes. Once you’ve received the diagnosis, you can only manage your symptoms.

Women may experience unique obstacles to managing their blood sugar and diabetes. For instance, some birth control pills can increase your blood sugar. To maintain a moderate blood sugar level, ask your doctor about switching to a low dose birth control pill.

Other ways to help manage your diabetes are described below.

There’s a variety of medications you can take to manage symptoms and complications.

Many new classes of diabetes medications are available, but the most common medications for those who have recently received a diagnosis include:

• Insulin therapy: Insulin therapy can be used for all people with type 1 diabetes and people with type 2 diabetes with higher blood sugar levels.
• Metformin: Metformin (Fortamet, Glumetza) lowers your blood sugar levels.

Lifestyle changes can also help you manage diabetes. They include:

• exercising and maintaining a moderate weight
• avoiding smoking cigarettes, if you smoke
• following a balanced eating plan that meets your personal needs and is focused on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
• monitoring your blood sugar levels

The ADA’s latest consensus report reviewed hundreds of scientific articles on how nutrition and diet can be used to manage diabetes. Researchers found that everyone’s body responds differently to foods, including carbohydrates, and there’s no single “diabetes diet” that works for all people.

The ADA recommends an individualized approach to eating. This should include working with a registered dietitian to find out what eating plan, macronutrient combination, and food choices make the most sense for your goals.

More conclusive research is needed on the benefits of alternative remedies for people with diabetes.

Alternative remedies that may have a slight benefit for people with diabetes include:

Consult a doctor before trying any new diabetes remedies, even if they’re natural. They may interact with your current treatments or medications.

Diabetes is the seventh most common cause of death in the United States. There’s no exact standard or metric that can confirm how long you may live with the condition.

Many people lead a long and healthy life with diabetes. A 2022 study on the importance of type 2 diabetes treatment goals concluded that meeting certain goals, like lowering your LDL (bad) cholesterol, might increase your life expectancy.

Various medications, lifestyle changes, and alternative remedies may help you manage your symptoms and improve your overall health. If you have diabetes and are interested in exploring new treatments, talk with your doctor first, even if you think they’re safe.