Diabetes is a serious chronic health condition that affects millions of women worldwide, and you may already be familiar with some of the more common symptoms. However, many women experience more subtle or lesser-known symptoms that frequently go unnoticed. These signs can point to undiagnosed diabetes or prediabetes, which is a condition in which your blood sugar levels are elevated above normal, but not yet high enough to warrant a diabetes diagnosis.Understanding these more specific symptoms is essential for early detection and management of diabetes, and even if you don’t meet the formal diagnostic criteria for diabetes, recognising unusual symptoms or patterns can sometimes reveal underlying blood sugar issues that could benefit from early intervention.
While subtle health symptoms matter
According to the American Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 30 million people in the USA have diabetes, and up to 25% of them don’t know it! Even more concerning, 84 million Americans are thought to live with prediabetes, with a shocking 90% being unaware of their condition. Why are so many people unaware of such a serious and life-impacting health condition? The answer is that diabetes doesn’t always present with sudden or dramatic symptoms, at least at first. Noticeable blood sugar crashes or fainting spells, for instance, are present in only a minority of severe cases. Instead, the initial symptoms are often mild and indistinct, developing gradually over many years, and making it far easier to dismiss them as minor or transitory concerns.
Let’s look at some of the lesser-known symptoms of diabetes in women, why they occur, and what to do if you identify with any of these signs.
1. Frequent urination
Frequent urination might seem like a harmless symptom – after all, everyone drinks water, and it’s normal for urinary patterns to vary from day to day. However, if you find yourself running to the toilet several times an hour or waking up to urinate throughout the night, it may signal an underlying issue. Diabetes-related frequent urination, known as polyuria, occurs when high blood sugar levels cause the kidneys to work overtime to filter and excrete the excess glucose. The sugar draws water in, creating a larger volume of urine.
2. Feeling excessively thirsty
Excessive thirst, or polydipsia, is another common symptom associated with diabetes, and one that is often missed when people are busy, or during hot weather. It is closely tied to polyuria – as your body becomes dehydrated through frequent urination, your thirst signals are activated. Here is the catch: many people instinctively quench this thirst with sugary drinks in the summer, further contributing to a blood sugar spike cycle. It’s important to be aware of extreme thirst that doesn’t subside even after you drink, and any cravings for sugar laden drinks during these episodes.
3. Unexplained weight loss
Unexplained weight loss can be a red flag for a variety of health conditions, so take careful note if you lose weight without altering your diet or exercise routine. A common cause for this is an inability to utilise glucose for energy – a central hallmark of diabetes – forcing your body to burn stored fat and muscle instead. Of course, in most people, weight fluctuates naturally over time, between seasons, and even across the monthly cycle, so what constitutes ‘unexplained weight loss?’ In general, losing 5 to 10% of your body weight unintentionally over six months can be a cause for concern. If in any doubt, please see your doctor.
4. Persistent fatigue
Everyone experiences periods of exhaustion and fatigue, which can persist for several weeks after illness or during periods of insomnia. Hot weather, ageing, stress, and long summer nights can also exacerbate daytime fatigue. However, persistent fatigue that continues despite getting adequate sleep and nutrition might indicate diabetes. This is related to poor energy regulation due to your body not absorbing glucose efficiently from the blood to use as fuel. When glucose isn’t accessible, you end up feeling continuously worn down and sluggish – and all the naps and coffees in the world won’t shift it.
5. Recurring yeast infections
Many women with diabetes notice an increase in vaginal yeast infections. Why? High blood sugar levels create a favourable environment for yeast to multiply, and persistent blood sugar issues can make these infections more frequent and harder to treat. We recommend consulting your GP if you experience two or three yeast infections within a matter of months, especially if you have difficulty clearing the infections with typical over-the-counter treatments.
How often should you test for diabetes?
Diabetes and prediabetes often go undetected because the symptoms can develop slowly and be mistaken for signs of other conditions, or brushed off as stress or ageing. A routine annual test might highlight early blood sugar imbalances even before apparent symptoms emerge, giving you time to make simple, meaningful lifestyle adjustments.
Consider annual testing if:
-
You have a family history of diabetes.
-
You experience any of the above symptoms, even sporadically.
-
You have risk factors such as PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), obesity, or a sedentary lifestyle.
Testing is quick, involving a simple fasting blood glucose test, which reflects your average blood sugar levels over roughly three months. Early testing - whether yearly or as needed - provides knowledge, peace of mind, and a proactive step towards better health. Don’t wait. Take control and empower yourself today.
To find out more about the Suresign range of self-test kits and how to access them as an individual or to stock them in your pharmacy, please contact one of our team today by clicking here.