Diabetes mellitus is a disease in which insulin synthesis is impaired. Insulin is a hormone that is involved in the process of converting sugar into glucose. If the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, sugar begins to accumulate in the blood and diabetes develops. In some cases, the hormone is not released at all - then the patient has to inject artificial insulin for life.

Most often, women suffer from the disease. Provoking factors can be overweight, severe emotional upheaval, hormonal drugs. The risk of developing diabetes increases by 50% after 40 years, when menopause sets in, and hormonal changes occur. The insidiousness of the disease lies in the fact that it almost does not manifest itself, and pathology can be detected by chance when undergoing a routine examination. That is why it is important to know what symptoms and signs may indicate diabetes mellitus (especially if someone in the family suffers from this disease).

In most cases, diabetes in women does not manifest itself. The woman explains the increased fatigue, sudden mood swings and periodic headaches with heavy workloads or tiredness from everyday chores. The chances of detecting the disease at the initial stage are higher for women who work in industries that require an annual medical examination (employees of Russian Railways, catering staff, educators). The introduction of planned medical examination also had a positive effect on the early diagnosis of dangerous diseases, so you should not refuse to undergo a commission.

The development of diabetes in women over 40 is affected by several factors associated with physiological changes in the female body at this age. These include:

• changes in hormonal levels and status during menopause;
• disorders in the thyroid gland resulting from a decrease in the synthesis of thyroid hormones;
• slowdown of metabolic processes in the body (including the synthesis and metabolism of glucose).

The main way to control the possible presence of diabetes after 40 years is a regular biochemical blood test. According to the results of the analysis, you can determine the level of sugar, and in case of its increase, send the patient to additional examinations that will help clarify the diagnosis.

The norm of sugar in women after 40 years

For research, venous or capillary blood can be used. On sale now there is a large selection of glucometers designed to measure sugar at home. Experts advise using this device to control sugar after a diagnosis is made as part of a therapeutic or supportive therapy. For primary diagnosis, it is better to undergo a laboratory test, which allows you to get more accurate results.

In order for the analysis to show reliable results, it is important to prepare correctly. To do this, you need:

• do not eat or drink for 8 hours before analysis (it is better to maintain an interval of 12 hours);
• a day before the study, remove from the menu foods that lower sugar (cherries, apricots, spinach), alcohol and fried / spicy foods;
• do not brush your teeth and do not use chewing gum;
• no smoking;
• do not take vitamins and other synthetic supplements.

If the patient is taking medication, you should warn the laboratory technician who will make a special note about this. The doctor will take into account possible reactions when evaluating the results of the study.

Sugar levels in women after 40 can look like this:

Donate blood for sugar every six months. This is important for early diagnosis and timely initiation of treatment. If a woman ignores these recommendations, she needs to be especially careful and if you see any signs indicating a possible development of diabetes mellitus, consult a doctor immediately.

How to recognize diabetes after 40 years?

Type 2 diabetes mellitus takes the 3rd place among diseases diagnosed in women older than 40-45 years (after uterine fibroids and diseases of the mammary glands). The disease is almost asymptomatic, but there are still certain signs that can determine the clinical picture of diabetes. Most of these symptoms are common to other diseases, so they are not given much importance. This explains the fact that women get to the doctor already at the advanced stages of the disease, which occur against the background of complications.

Visual impairment

A woman may complain of a decrease in visual acuity, vague contours. Eyes quickly get tired, there is a burning sensation and sensations of "sand in the eyes." Against the background of diabetes, eye diseases often develop: myopia or hyperopia, glaucoma, cataracts. If a woman spends a lot of time at the computer, the symptoms intensify, and by the end of the day, vision may appear before my eyes. This phenomenon is short-term and lasts no more than 1-2 minutes.

Constant thirst

Violation of the sensitivity of cells to insulin may be accompanied by dry mucous membranes of the oral cavity. This is expressed in constant thirst, which does not pass even after a woman drinks water or compote. Against this background, fluid intake increases. In some cases, the patient can drink up to 3-4 liters of drinks per day. Given that kidneys with diabetes cannot function normally, such an abundant drinking regimen leads to the formation of edema, which usually occurs on the extremities and surfaces of the face.

Increase bone fragility

Impaired salt metabolism can lead to the development of initial forms of osteoporosis - a disease in which calcium salts are washed out of bone tissue. Bones become weak and brittle, easily break. If a woman often has injuries for no apparent reason, consult a doctor. The sooner the diagnosis is performed, the greater the chances of a successful treatment.

Itchy skin

With diabetes, local and cellular immunity decreases, which increases the predisposition to bacterial and fungal infections. Most often the skin and mucous membranes are affected. The most common infection in women over 40 is vaginal candidiasis (thrush). In patients with diabetes, the disease can recur up to 4-6 times a year, while the treatment each time becomes longer and requires the use of stronger drugs.

Often the fungus appears on the scalp, as well as under the breast. In this case, characteristic moist spots of red or brown color begin to appear on the skin, which have an unpleasant odor and cause severe itching.

Weight gain

If a woman leads an active lifestyle, eats properly, but is gaining weight, it is necessary to check with an endocrinologist. An increase in body weight (most often rapid) is one of the main signs of diabetes of any type that occurs as a result of hormonal imbalance. There are cases when, in just a few months, a woman’s weight increased by 30-40 kg, therefore, consulting a specialist during weight gain for no apparent reason is mandatory.

Violation of the regenerative function of the skin

With diabetes, the skin cannot fully recover, which leads to a prolonged violation of the integrity of the dermis. Any cuts, abrasions and wounds are long drawn out. The formation of crusts is slow, the wounds can bleed for several days, although normally they should heal in 1-2 days. The use of special ointments and creams that improve skin regeneration gives a mild effect.

Increased urination at night

The patient often begins to urinate during sleep, while during the day the number of urges to empty the bladder remains within normal limits. This is due to impaired renal function and abundant fluid intake, characteristic of type 2 diabetes. The volume of urine excreted at night does not significantly increase and ranges from 100 to 230 ml. The color is usually light yellow, slight clouding and precipitation may occur (this symptom depends on the condition of the kidneys and the degree of disturbance in their functioning).

Ulcers and spots on the skin

This symptom is rare (in about 17% of cases). A woman may appear spots on the skin, outwardly resembling areas with increased pigmentation. They can have pink, flesh, burgundy and light brown. The surface of the spots can be covered with white scales. Itching is usually not observed. Size - from a few millimeters to 10-12 cm.

Sometimes ulcerous lesions appear at the site of such spots. Most often they are localized on the legs and hips, but in rare cases they can appear on the abdomen and upper limbs.

Tingling and numbness of the legs

A tingling sensation in the legs with diabetes occurs in every second case. Some women attribute this to a lack of magnesium. In fact, with insufficient intake of magnesium, numbness and cramps occur mainly at night, and with diabetes they can occur at any time of the day, while such phenomena last up to 3-5 minutes (in contrast to nightly tingling).

If a woman does not have a menopause, a menstrual cycle may be observed. Chronic fatigue, apathy, decreased performance, and headaches are also common companions of diabetes. These phenomena are permanent and do not pass after vitamin therapy and other measures.

After 50 years, the main symptoms of diabetes are decreased vision and itching in the genital area. The patient often appears infectious diseases of the genitourinary system (cystitis, urethritis, pyelonephritis), as well as purulent lesions of the skin and mucous membranes.

Important!  The listed symptoms can occur singly. Rarely all signs of the disease appear in a complex, so even one of them is a reason for going to the hospital and undergoing a comprehensive examination.

If diagnosed with diabetes

If a woman is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, it is important not to fall into despair. You can live with the disease, and live quite a long time and comfortably. To minimize the likelihood of complications and improve the quality of life, a woman must strictly comply with all doctor's prescriptions. Systematic intake of drugs that lower sugar (" Siofor», « Glucophage»), And other drugs that are part of combination therapy and are selected individually, is a prerequisite for maintaining the normal functioning of the body and maintaining the life of the patient.

   Glucophage drug for diabetes

   The drug Siofor

Some women, after studying the annotation to the drug, are afraid to take it because of the large number of side effects. It should be clearly understood that the benefits of such drugs are much higher than the expected harm, since not only health, but also the patient’s life directly depends on the treatment.

Important! In diabetes, you must take all the medications prescribed by your doctor. Self-medication withdrawal is not allowed. In case of side effects or worsening of well-being, it is necessary to notify the attending physician, but do not stop taking the medicine.

Of great importance is the lifestyle that a woman will lead after she learns about the disease. The leading role is given to nutrition. Products with a high glycemic index (that is, those that provoke sharp fluctuations in sugar) are completely removed from the menu. These include:

• butter baking;
• white bread;
• confectionery and sweets;
• sugar;
• some types of cereals (pearl barley, barley);
• sweet fruits (grapes, bananas, persimmons).

As desserts, it is sometimes allowed to use a small amount of marshmallows or pastille. You can eat a couple of slices of natural marmalade on pectin or seaweed. Fruits and berries are especially useful. In diabetes, it is recommended to regularly eat apples, cherries, raspberries, pears, plums. In the season you need to eat more apricots and cherries - these fruits perfectly reduce sugar and saturate the body with useful amino acids and vitamins.

Do not get involved in dried fruits. Despite all the benefits of dried fruits, it is allowed to use them only for making compotes, since their calorie content is very high.

Important!  Any bad habits (overeating, alcoholism, smoking) shorten life expectancy, adversely affect the functioning of organs and can cause serious complications. A successful result from treatment cannot be achieved if the patient does not completely give up smoking and drinking alcohol.

The lifestyle for diabetes should be as calm as possible. Any stresses and unrest can lead to hormonal fluctuations that negatively affect the course of the disease and can contribute to its progression. A woman must learn to control her emotions. The use of relaxing techniques gives a good effect.

You can escape from negative thoughts and relieve fatigue using one of the following methods:

• relaxing bath with sea salt and rose essential oil;
• aromatherapy;
• massage;
• herbal teas with honey or milk.

If the patient suffers from insomnia, you can drink a glass of warm milk with honey before bedtime. As prescribed by a doctor, you can take mild sedatives: " Valerian», « Glycine», « Motherwort».

Do not forget about physical activity. A set of exercises for women with diabetes should be selected individually, taking into account age-related characteristics and the presence of chronic diseases. Many hospitals have special classes of exercise therapy for patients with type 2 diabetes, which can be visited in the direction of the attending physician.

Diabetes mellitus is a deadly disease that is rapidly progressing every year, so it is important to pay enough attention to its prevention. Early diagnosis also refers to preventive measures, as it allows you to identify borderline forms of pathology and take timely measures for their treatment. Knowing the symptoms and signs of the disease, manifested in women after 40 years, you can quickly respond and consult a doctor, preventing the transition of the disease into a neglected form.

Video - Diabetes: Symptoms

Diabetes in women is not in vain considered a very serious disease. During illness, capillaries and blood vessels are affected by the human body, and organs lose the ability to function normally. The most dangerous and common complication of diabetes is cataract, which often leads to absolute blindness.

There are cases when a chronic form of renal failure, impotence, the development of trophic ulcers of the feet develops, with further defeat by their gangrene. As a rule, the result of this disease is neuropathy, when painful sensations first appear in the legs, and then the skin loses its sensitivity. In addition, diabetes affects the condition of the liver, and it often causes cirrhosis.

The first signs of diabetes in women after 30, 40, 50, 60 years

Today, diabetes is divided into two types. Each form of the disease can be characterized by both indirect signs and basic ones.

The main symptoms of diabetes in women are:

• constant thirst;
• frequent urination;
• significant weight loss, which can reach fifteen kilograms;
• general weakness of the body and rapid fatigue of the patient;
• the presence of smell of acetone from the mouth;
• nebula of vision;
• dizziness and heaviness in the legs.

As for the indirect signs of the disease, then they include:

• long-term treatment of diseases of an infectious nature (immunity is weakened due to diabetes);
• too long wound healing;
• lowering body temperature;
• cramps appear in the calf areas.

All the main signs of this disease in women often depend on the constitutional features of the female body. The special structure of their hormonal system and the presence of female sex hormones, not uncommon, represent the severity of diabetes mellitus is not as distinct as in men. However, despite this, many signs of diabetes in women, indicating the presence of this disease, exist. It is important to be able not only to distinguish them, but also to consult a doctor (endocrinologist) in time for timely help.

So, the main signs of diabetes in women are:

• weight loss or fast weight gain;
• increased fluid intake, which does not entail swelling in the morning;
• decreased appetite or increase;
• failure in the menstrual cycle;
• pronounced pigmentation on the face, as well as on the skin of the hands;
• itchy skin;
• fragility of hair and nails;
• bad breath of acetone from the mouth;
• weakness and dizziness.

All these signs of diabetes in women make it possible to timely identify this disease in the early stages of its development, as well as take the necessary measures to prevent the risk of complications.

If you have some basic signs of diabetes, then this is not a reason to immediately get upset and start to panic. An unambiguous and accurate diagnosis can only be established by a doctor by conducting laboratory tests.

Basically, diabetes does not develop at one time. Initially, glucose tolerance fails. Further, insulin deficiency increases, and then diabetes mellitus develops.

We must not forget that all the main signs of diabetes in women can be disguised as symptoms and other serious diseases. That is why it is very important that every woman undergoes a regular examination, which includes taking a blood test for glucose.

With a small increase in blood sugar, it is difficult to establish a diagnosis of diabetes. This condition is called borderline and means impaired glucose tolerance. It is at this stage that there is a high risk of developing diabetes. However, this phenomenon is reversible. If you adhere strictly to the recommendations of your doctor, you can avoid a serious illness.

Prevention

In order to protect themselves from diabetes, each woman should follow a diet and eat fractionally, that is, about five times a day. It is necessary to minimize the consumption of all refined carbohydrates and saturated fats (honey, jam, sugar, etc.). Your diet can only be complex carbohydrates and those foods that are rich in soluble fiber. If we present the diet in percentage terms, we get the following: the carbohydrate content should be no less than sixty percent, fat - about twenty percent, protein - no more than twenty percent. You should prefer exclusively white bird meat, vegetable dishes, herbal decoctions, low-fat fish. Fried foods need to be replaced with boiled or stewed foods. Sweets, drinks with sugar, smoked meats, carbonated drinks and salt must be excluded from the diet, and engage in physical exercises. In this case, your diabetes prevention will really be effective.