{"id":23771,"date":"2020-11-02T10:35:00","date_gmt":"2020-11-02T10:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/?post_type=diabeteshealth&#038;p=23771"},"modified":"2026-05-27T05:28:09","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T05:28:09","slug":"signs-of-diabetes-in-women","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/diabetes-health\/signs-of-diabetes-in-women\/","title":{"rendered":"Diabetes in Women: Symptoms, Risks, and More"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Diabetes mellitus, or diabetes, is a disease affecting the regulation of blood glucose (sugar) levels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An organ called the pancreas creates the hormone insulin, which helps keep blood sugar levels in a healthy range. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With diabetes, the pancreas either doesn\u2019t make enough insulin, or the body doesn\u2019t respond to it well. Without proper insulin function, blood sugar levels rise and can lead to health problems if left untreated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Diabetes is becoming more prevalent worldwide. As of 2015,&nbsp;30.3 million people in the United States, or about 9.4 percent of the population, had diabetes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, more than 1 in 4 people with diabetes don\u2019t know they have it. Having undiagnosed diabetes increases the risk of complications from lack of prompt treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many people also have prediabetes, a condition where blood sugars are slightly elevated but not high enough to be considered diabetes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Having prediabetes is a major risk factor for eventually developing type 2 diabetes. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.health.com\/type-2-diabetes\/5-ways-prevent-prediabetes-becoming-diabetes\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">up to 30% of people with prediabetes<\/a>&nbsp;will develop type 2 diabetes within five years of their prediabetes diagnosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-diabetes-in-women\"><strong>Diabetes in women<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Diabetes affects both men and women, and can even affect children. Men are typically diagnosed with <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.bensnaturalhealth.com\/diabetes-health\/prediabetic-diet\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">prediabetes<\/a>&nbsp;more often than women, but women are still susceptible. It\u2019s estimated that about&nbsp;15 million women&nbsp;in the United States have diabetes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over 199 million women live with diabetes, with the projection of that number increasing to&nbsp;313 million by 2040. Diabetes is the ninth leading direct cause of death in women worldwide, causing over 2 million deaths each year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>People over the age of 45 are most likely to be diagnosed with diabetes, but it\u2019s also being seen more in teenagers and younger adults. Most people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes, which is linked to both genetic and lifestyle factors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Diabetes increases the risk of heart disease. On its own, heart disease is the&nbsp;leading cause of death in women, which makes properly <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/2043016\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">managing diabetes<\/a> even more crucial for health and longevity. Women with diabetes are also&nbsp;four times more likely&nbsp;to have a stroke than women without diabetes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-signs-and-symptoms-of-diabetes-in-women\"><strong>Signs and symptoms of diabetes in women<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Having high blood sugar usually doesn\u2019t come without symptoms if it\u2019s acute (short-term). When blood sugar levels are chronically high, such as in the case of diabetes, symptoms can arise. Some common&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/diabetes\/basics\/symptoms.html\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">symptoms of diabetes include<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Urinating (peeing) more often than usual<br><br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Increased thirst<br><br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unintentional weight loss<br><br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Increased hunger<br><br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Blurry vision<br><br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Numb or tingling hands or feet<br><br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fatigue<br><br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dry skin<br><br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Slowly-healing sores or wounds<br><br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Increased rate of infections<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-pregnancy-and-diabetes\"><strong>Pregnancy and diabetes<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Women with diabetes (type 1, type 2, or gestational) are at&nbsp;increased risk of complications&nbsp;during pregnancy if blood sugar isn\u2019t well-managed. Many <a href=\"https:\/\/www.niddk.nih.gov\/health-information\/diabetes\/diabetes-pregnancy#baby\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">women with diabetes<\/a> have healthy pregnancies and babies, but more caution is taken when it comes to their treatment plan to ensure both mother and baby stay healthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Having high blood sugar during pregnancy can increase the risk of preterm birth and <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.bensnaturalhealth.com\/diabetes-health\/metformin-birth-defects\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">birth defects<\/a>. Babies born to mothers with diabetes may also be large for their gestational age or have <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.bensnaturalhealth.com\/diabetes-health\/low-blood-sugar-symptoms\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">low blood sugar<\/a> problems after they are born.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pregnant women with diabetes are also at higher risk of gaining too much weight during their pregnancy and developing a dangerous condition called preeclampsia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even if a woman\u2019s blood sugar levels were well-controlled prior to getting pregnant, pregnancy hormones could make <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.bensnaturalhealth.com\/diabetes-health\/symptoms-of-high-blood-sugar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">blood sugar<\/a> more erratic and difficult to control. Close follow-up with a healthcare provider trained in pregnancy and diabetes is recommended to minimize the risk of complications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-type-1-diabetes\"><strong>Type 1 diabetes<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. The body mistakenly views the pancreas&#8217; beta cells as invaders, and it works to destroy them. People with type 1 diabetes have little to no beta-cell function left and must inject insulin in order to live a healthy life.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Type 1 diabetes is the rarest of the types of diabetes, affecting about&nbsp;2-5% of the world\u2019s population&nbsp;and about 1 in 300 American adults before the age of 18. Type 1 usually occurs before age 18, which is why it\u2019s also referred to as juvenile diabetes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike type 2 diabetes, type 1 diabetes isn\u2019t associated with lifestyle factors such as weight, ethnicity, physical activity level, etc. In fact, many people with type 1 diabetes can appear thin and be at a normal weight or be underweight. This occurs due to the complete lack of insulin, which is needed to feed the body\u2019s cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The&nbsp;risk factors&nbsp;for type 1 diabetes aren\u2019t as well-understood as the other types of diabetes because of its nature as an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2925303\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">autoimmune disease<\/a>. Risk factors for developing type 1 diabetes include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Family history: people with a parent or sibling with type 1 diabetes are more likely to develop it than people without a family history.<br><br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Genetics: certain genes tend to indicate an increased risk of type 1 diabetes.<br><br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Geography: incidence of type 1 diabetes tends to increase as the distance from the equator increases.<br><br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Age: the first peak of diagnosis tends to occur between ages 4-7, and again between ages 10-14.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-type-2-diabetes\"><strong>Type 2 diabetes<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Type 2 diabetes is much different than type 1. It can occur in adolescence but is more common in older adults. Unlike type 1 diabetes, it isn\u2019t an autoimmune disease. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the pancreas stops producing enough insulin, or the body doesn\u2019t respond to insulin the way it should. When the body doesn\u2019t use insulin effectively, it\u2019s called&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.bensnaturalhealth.com\/diabetes-health\/how-to-reverse-insulin-resistance-at-midlife\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">insulin resistance<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>People with type 2 diabetes may not always need to inject insulin to manage it. Other diabetes medications, many in pill form, can be used to treat type 2 diabetes. Some people with type 2 diabetes can even manage it through lifestyle alone, without the need for medication.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/type-2-diabetes\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20351193\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">risk factors<\/a>&nbsp;for type 2 diabetes are much more well-known than for type 1:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Weight: women who are considered overweight or obese according to their <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.bensnaturalhealth.com\/diabetes-health\/healthy-bmi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">body mass index<\/a> (BMI).<br><br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Age: women 45 and older are at increased risk.<br><br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Family history of diabetes<br><br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Race\/ethnicity: diabetes tends to affect certain races more than others. At-risk races include African American, Alaska Native, Native American, Asian American, Hispanic\/Latino, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander.<br><br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>High blood pressure: blood pressure higher than 120\/80 increases risk.<br><br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Altered lipid levels: low levels of HDL \u201cgood\u201d cholesterol and high levels of LDL \u201cbad\u201d cholesterol are risk factors, as well as high triglycerides (blood fat).<br><br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pregnancy history: women with a history of gestational diabetes (GDM) or gave birth to a baby 9 pounds or heavier are at increased risk.<br><br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Physical activity: women who aren\u2019t regularly active or have a sedentary lifestyle are at increased risk.<br><br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Smoking status: Smokers are&nbsp;30-40% more likely&nbsp;to develop type 2 diabetes than nonsmokers.<br><br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Health history: women with a history of heart attack or stroke have a higher likelihood of developing <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.bensnaturalhealth.com\/diabetes-health\/type-2-diabetes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">type 2 diabetes<\/a>.<br><br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>PCOS: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.bensnaturalhealth.com\/diabetes-health\/pcos-and-diabetes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">PCOS<\/a>) in women is a risk factor, as it usually is associated with insulin resistance.<br><br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Acanthosis nigricans: dark, velvety patches of skin are a sign of insulin resistance and are a risk factor for developing diabetes. These patches of skin usually occur around the neck or armpits.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-gestational-diabetes\"><strong>Gestational diabetes<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.bensnaturalhealth.com\/diabetes-health\/gestational-diabetes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Gestational diabetes<\/a> (GDM)&nbsp;affects women during pregnancy. It occurs in women without a previous history of diabetes. The drastic shift in hormones <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.bensnaturalhealth.com\/general-health\/early-signs-of-pregnancy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">during pregnancy<\/a> can trigger insulin resistance, resulting in higher blood sugars. It typically goes away after pregnancy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pregnant women without a previous history of GDM are screened for this condition between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. Those with a history of GDM are screened earlier. Having GDM is a risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes later in life, so women should continue to have their blood sugar checked periodically after pregnancy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Screening for GDM involves a glucose tolerance test. A drink with sugar is given to the pregnant woman, and her blood sugar is tested one hour after. If it\u2019s high, she\u2019ll do a 3-hour glucose tolerance test, with her blood sugars being measured once every hour for three hours after drinking a sugary drink. GDM will be diagnosed based on the results of the <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.bensnaturalhealth.com\/diabetes-health\/glucose-blood-test\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">glucose tolerance test.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Risk factors for developing GDM include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Being at a higher weight when becoming pregnant.<br><br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Being African-American, Asian, Hispanic, or Native American<br><br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Having a history of prediabetes or GDM<br><br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Having <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.bensnaturalhealth.com\/general-health\/foods-that-raise-blood-pressure\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">high blood pressure<\/a> or other medical problems<br><br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Having given birth to a large baby weighing 9 pounds or more<br><br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Having given birth to a stillborn baby or one with birth defects<br><br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Being over the age of 25<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-complications-of-diabetes\"><strong>Complications<\/strong> of diabetes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>High blood sugar damages blood vessels and body organs over time, which can lead to diabetes complications. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Serious complications can be prevented through good self-care and regular medical follow-up, such as having routine blood work done and visiting with a healthcare provider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some of the ways diabetes can cause complications to include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Heart health:&nbsp;<\/strong>Having diabetes can cause hardening of the arteries called atherosclerosis, which is a risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease (<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.niddk.nih.gov\/health-information\/diabetes\/overview\/preventing-problems\/heart-disease-stroke\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">heart disease<\/a>). If an artery becomes too narrow, it can become blocked, which results in a heart attack (myocardial infarction) or stroke, depending on where the blockage occurs. Diabetes is also linked with dyslipidemia or abnormal cholesterol levels. Having high LDL (bad) cholesterol and low levels of HDL (good) <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.bensnaturalhealth.com\/cholesterol-and-cancer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cholesterol<\/a> increases the risk of heart disease.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br><br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Urinary and sexual issues:&nbsp;<\/strong>Women with diabetes are at higher risk of developing&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.bensnaturalhealth.com\/urinary-tract-infection\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">urinary tract infections<\/a>&nbsp;due to increased sugar in the urine, which feeds bacteria and yeast. Women with diabetes may also be at increased risk of&nbsp;vaginal dryness&nbsp;from damage to the nerves that lubricate the vagina. This can lead to painful intercourse and sexual dysfunction. Some studies have even found that women with diabetes are more likely to&nbsp;experience <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4430881\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sex drive issues<\/a>, especially those suffering from depression.<br><br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Neuropathy and retinopathy:&nbsp;<\/strong>High blood sugar can cause nerve damage, known as neuropathy. Many people experience this in the form of&nbsp;peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy causes pain as well as numbness and tingling of the extremities.&nbsp;&nbsp;Diabetes can also damage the blood vessels in the eyes, which leads to&nbsp;retinopathy. <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.bensnaturalhealth.com\/diabetes-health\/diabetic-retinopathy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Retinopathy<\/a> can potentially lead to loss of vision.<br><br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Wound healing:&nbsp;<\/strong>High blood sugar impairs the body\u2019s ability to heal itself. When wounds don\u2019t heal quickly, there is a higher chance of infection. The chances of wound complications are even higher if the person also has neuropathy because they can\u2019t feel the wound, and it may go untreated for a long time.<br><br>If limbs are severely damaged from a poorly healing wound, it may need to be amputated. In fact, diabetes is thought to be the&nbsp;leading cause of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajmc.com\/newsroom\/diabetic-amputations-may-be-rising-in-the-united-states\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">leg amputations<\/a>&nbsp;worldwide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-treatments-for-diabetes\"><strong>Treatments<\/strong> for diabetes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Fortunately, there are many different treatment options for women with diabetes. Treatment plans aren\u2019t a one-size-fits-all but are instead personalized to meet the unique needs of each person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some women can manage their diabetes without medications, and others need medication. Taking medication doesn\u2019t mean someone has failed at controlling their blood sugars; it often means that the <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.bensnaturalhealth.com\/diabetes-health\/pancreas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">pancreas<\/a> is poorly functioning to respond well to lifestyle changes alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are several approaches to manage diabetes, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-medications\"><strong>Medications<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Some of the more popular medications used to treat diabetes include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.bensnaturalhealth.com\/diabetes-health\/metformin\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Metformin<\/a>: Helps to reduce the amount of sugar released by the liver and improves insulin sensitivity.<br><br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4548036\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sulfonylureas<\/a>: Stimulate the pancreas to secrete more insulin<br><br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>GLP1 receptor agonists: Promote insulin production, decrease glucose release from the liver, and slows stomach emptying to increase satiety<br><br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>DPP-4 inhibitors: Promote insulin production, decrease glucagon (a hormone that increases blood sugar) production, and delays gastric emptying.<br><br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Insulin is available in&nbsp;different types: long-acting, short-acting, rapid-acting, intermediate-acting, and mixed. They differ in how quickly they take to work, how long until they are working the most to lower blood sugar and how long they last to provide blood sugar control. People with <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.bensnaturalhealth.com\/diabetes-health\/type-1-diabetes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">type 1 diabetes<\/a> are insulin-dependent and usually take at least two types of insulins on a daily basis.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-lifestyle-changes\"><strong>Lifestyle changes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Making sustainable lifestyle changes can help promote healthy blood sugar levels.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cut back on sugar.<\/strong>&nbsp;While eating sugar doesn\u2019t&nbsp;<em>cause<\/em>&nbsp;diabetes, a higher intake of sugar has been associated with&nbsp;an increased <a href=\"https:\/\/healthcare.utah.edu\/healthfeed\/postings\/2015\/02\/021015_cvarticle-sugar-diabetes.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">risk of diabetes<\/a>, along with many other factors. Added sugars tend to be especially detrimental to health since they don\u2019t provide any nutritional value and cause large blood sugar fluctuations.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Added sugar is hidden in many common foods, which can make it hard to avoid for those who don\u2019t know how to identify <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.bensnaturalhealth.com\/diabetes-health\/how-to-stop-eating-sugar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">added sugar<\/a>. Foods that are marketed as healthy can actually be very high in sugar, such as yogurts, cereal, and nutrition bars. Added sugar is also hidden in less-obvious foods like pasta sauce, salad dressings, and condiments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.heart.org\/en\/healthy-living\/healthy-eating\/eat-smart\/sugar\/added-sugars\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">American Heart Association<\/a>&nbsp;recommends that women consume no more than 6 teaspoons of added sugar per day (24 grams) and men consume no more than 9 teaspoons of added sugar per day (36 grams).&nbsp;<br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Exercise.&nbsp;<\/strong>Being physically active is a very important way to help control diabetes. 150 minutes per week of moderate physical activity, such as brisk walking, is recommended. Strength training is also beneficial for improving blood sugar, and it can also improve bone health. This is especially important since women are at a&nbsp;higher risk of bone loss&nbsp;at a younger age compared to men.<br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Eat a high-fiber diet.&nbsp;<\/strong>Plant-based foods rich in fiber tend to raise blood sugar levels more slowly than low-fiber plant-based foods. Fiber is in foods such as fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes. A <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.bensnaturalhealth.com\/diabetes-health\/fiber-and-diabetes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">high-fiber diet<\/a> has been associated with&nbsp;improved blood sugar control. Fiber is also beneficial for promoting heart health and can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. A good amount of fiber to aim for is around 30 grams per day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-supplements\"><strong>Supplements<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cinnamon is a more well-known supplement for its potential blood <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/24019277\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sugar-lowering effects<\/a>.&nbsp;Some studies&nbsp;have found that cinnamon can help lower fasting blood sugar, as well as help promote normal cholesterol and triglyceride levels.<br><br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.bensnaturalhealth.com\/diabetes-health\/aloe-vera-benefits-for-diabetes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Aloe vera<\/a>&nbsp;may help to lower blood sugar and hemoglobin A1c, as well as improve cholesterol levels. There are few studies on this topic, though.<br><br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Chromium is a mineral that is beneficial for insulin action and carbohydrate metabolism. People with diabetes often have lower levels of chromium than people without diabetes. Supplements containing&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/15208835\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">chromium picolinate<\/a>&nbsp;have been found to improve blood sugar control.<br><br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4591578\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Fenugreek<\/a>&nbsp;can help lower blood sugar by increasing insulin levels. Another benefit is that it can also help lower cholesterol levels.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-conclusion\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Diabetes is a disease affecting both genders and all ages. Diabetes is increasing in prevalence worldwide, with many people not even knowing they have it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Without proper treatment, diabetes can negatively affect a woman&#8217;s health. Fortunately, there are many aspects of diabetes treatment which can improve blood sugar control and improve health and wellness. Women can reduce their risks of developing diabetes complications and live happy, healthy lives through a combination of lifestyle changes, medication, and natural treatments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-explore-more\">Explore More<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.bensnaturalhealth.com\/diabetes-health\/how-does-metformin-affect-a-woman-sexually\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"256\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.bensnaturalhealth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/metformin-1024x256.jpg\" alt=\"how does metformin affect a woman sexually\" class=\"wp-image-42902\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/metformin-1024x256.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/metformin-300x75.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/metformin-768x192.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/metformin-1536x384.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/metformin.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.bensnaturalhealth.com\/diabetes-health\/how-does-metformin-affect-a-woman-sexually\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How Metformin Affects Women Sexually: Side Effects &amp; Benefits<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Diabetes mellitus, or diabetes, is a disease affecting the regulation of blood glucose (sugar) levels. An organ called the pancreas creates the hormone insulin, which helps keep blood sugar levels in a healthy range. With diabetes, the pancreas either doesn\u2019t make enough insulin, or the body doesn\u2019t respond to it well. Without proper insulin function, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":23830,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[68,70],"health_topic":[125,149],"class_list":["post-23771","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-diabetes-management","tag-type-1-diabetes","health_topic-diabetes-health","health_topic-type-2-diabetes-topic"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.2 (Yoast SEO v27.5) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Diabetes in Women: Signs, Symptoms, Risks, and More<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Diabetes can negatively affect women\u2019s health if it\u2019s not properly treated. Find out the signs and symptoms of diabetes in women.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/diabetes-health\/signs-of-diabetes-in-women\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Diabetes in Women: Symptoms, Risks, and More\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Diabetes can negatively affect women\u2019s health if it\u2019s not properly treated. Find out the signs and symptoms of diabetes in women.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/diabetes-health\/signs-of-diabetes-in-women\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Ben&#039;s Natural Health\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-11-02T10:35:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-05-27T05:28:09+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/1-2020-10-21T153033.518.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"400\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Diana Gariglio-Clelland\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Diana Gariglio-Clelland\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"12 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":[\"WebPage\",\"MedicalWebPage\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\\\/blog\\\/diabetes-health\\\/signs-of-diabetes-in-women\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\\\/blog\\\/diabetes-health\\\/signs-of-diabetes-in-women\\\/\",\"name\":\"Diabetes in Women: Signs, Symptoms, Risks, and More\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\\\/blog\\\/diabetes-health\\\/signs-of-diabetes-in-women\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\\\/blog\\\/diabetes-health\\\/signs-of-diabetes-in-women\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/11\\\/1-2020-10-21T153033.518.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-11-02T10:35:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-27T05:28:09+00:00\",\"description\":\"Diabetes can negatively affect women\u2019s health if it\u2019s not properly treated. Find out the signs and symptoms of diabetes in women.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\\\/blog\\\/diabetes-health\\\/signs-of-diabetes-in-women\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\\\/blog\\\/diabetes-health\\\/signs-of-diabetes-in-women\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\\\/blog\\\/diabetes-health\\\/signs-of-diabetes-in-women\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/11\\\/1-2020-10-21T153033.518.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/11\\\/1-2020-10-21T153033.518.jpg\",\"width\":1600,\"height\":400,\"caption\":\"diabetes-women\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\\\/blog\\\/diabetes-health\\\/signs-of-diabetes-in-women\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Diabetes in Women: Symptoms, Risks, and More\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"Ben&#039;s Natural Health\",\"description\":\"All Natural Prostate Supplement\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Bens Natural Health\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/BNH_Logo-200px-1-1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/BNH_Logo-200px-1-1.png\",\"width\":56,\"height\":45,\"caption\":\"Bens Natural Health\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Diabetes in Women: Signs, Symptoms, Risks, and More","description":"Diabetes can negatively affect women\u2019s health if it\u2019s not properly treated. Find out the signs and symptoms of diabetes in women.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/diabetes-health\/signs-of-diabetes-in-women\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Diabetes in Women: Symptoms, Risks, and More","og_description":"Diabetes can negatively affect women\u2019s health if it\u2019s not properly treated. Find out the signs and symptoms of diabetes in women.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/diabetes-health\/signs-of-diabetes-in-women\/","og_site_name":"Ben&#039;s Natural Health","article_published_time":"2020-11-02T10:35:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-05-27T05:28:09+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1600,"height":400,"url":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/1-2020-10-21T153033.518.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Diana Gariglio-Clelland","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Diana Gariglio-Clelland","Est. reading time":"12 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":["WebPage","MedicalWebPage"],"@id":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/diabetes-health\/signs-of-diabetes-in-women\/","url":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/diabetes-health\/signs-of-diabetes-in-women\/","name":"Diabetes in Women: Signs, Symptoms, Risks, and More","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/diabetes-health\/signs-of-diabetes-in-women\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/diabetes-health\/signs-of-diabetes-in-women\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/1-2020-10-21T153033.518.jpg","datePublished":"2020-11-02T10:35:00+00:00","dateModified":"2026-05-27T05:28:09+00:00","description":"Diabetes can negatively affect women\u2019s health if it\u2019s not properly treated. Find out the signs and symptoms of diabetes in women.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/diabetes-health\/signs-of-diabetes-in-women\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/diabetes-health\/signs-of-diabetes-in-women\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/diabetes-health\/signs-of-diabetes-in-women\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/1-2020-10-21T153033.518.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/1-2020-10-21T153033.518.jpg","width":1600,"height":400,"caption":"diabetes-women"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/diabetes-health\/signs-of-diabetes-in-women\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Diabetes in Women: Symptoms, Risks, and More"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/","name":"Ben&#039;s Natural Health","description":"All Natural Prostate Supplement","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Bens Natural Health","url":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/BNH_Logo-200px-1-1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/BNH_Logo-200px-1-1.png","width":56,"height":45,"caption":"Bens Natural Health"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23771","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23771"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23771\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49059,"href":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23771\/revisions\/49059"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23830"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23771"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23771"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23771"},{"taxonomy":"health_topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/health_topic?post=23771"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}