Symptoms of Prediabetes in Females

Prediabetes is when blood glucose (blood sugar) levels are too high to be considered normal but not enough to be diabetes. Hormonal differences make this condition different between men and women. For example, women are more likely than men to develop diabetes-related complications such as vascular disease.

Learn more about the symptoms of prediabetes in girls and women.

How Do You Know If You Have Borderline Diabetes?

Over 80% of people with borderline diabetes or prediabetes do not know they have it. The symptoms of prediabetes are often mild, so much so that they go undetected.

However, early signs and risk factors may signal the need for screening. For example, people with polycystic ovary syndrome or excess weight are more likely to develop prediabetes.

Symptoms of Undiagnosed Prediabetes in Women

Some symptoms of prediabetes are the same for men and women. However, women may experience additional signs of prediabetes and diabetes, such as:

• Frequent vaginal yeast infections or urinary tract infections
• Menstrual cycle changes, such as heavy periods lasting longer than usual
• Decreased sex drive, pain during sex, or vaginal dryness

There is also a significant link between stress and prediabetes in women, as stressed women have nearly double the risk of developing type 2 diabetes as those who are not stressed.

Female Health and Prediabetes: What to Know

Prediabetes is more common among men than women, but women are more likely to know that they have prediabetes. While learning that you have prediabetes may be challenging, knowing you do can help you implement changes to reverse the condition and prevent it from progressing to type 2 diabetes.

Furthermore, women are at increased risk of diabetes complications such as heart disease. People with a history of gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) are also at an increased risk of developing prediabetes. Talk to your healthcare provider to learn if you could benefit from annual prediabetes screenings.

Reversing Prediabetes

It is possible to reverse prediabetes before it escalates to type 2 diabetes by implementing lifestyle changes, including the following:

• Managing stress regularly
• Losing weight
• Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet
• Exercising or being physically active

Even small changes such as 30 minutes of exercise five days a week and weight loss of 7% of total body weight can go a long way in reversing prediabetes and preventing type 2 diabetes.

How Long Does It Take?

Prediabetes can lead to type 2 diabetes within five years or less. It is possible to reverse prediabetes by reducing stress levels, eating healthy foods, and being physically active. It is possible to reverse prediabetes and diabetes within three to six months. However, the timeline varies based on your overall health and lifestyle changes.

Foods to Avoid

The primary foods to avoid prediabetes are those with a lot of sugar, such as candy, baked goods, sugar-sweetened beverages, and processed white bread and grains. A plant-based diet has been shown to promote weight loss and prevent and treat type 2 diabetes.

Summary

Prediabetes is a serious health condition that affects women differently than men. Many people do not know they have prediabetes because they either do not have symptoms or symptoms are so subtle that they do not notice them. It is possible to reverse prediabetes before it leads to type 2 diabetes by reducing stress levels, exercising regularly, and eating a well-balanced, plant-based diet low in sugar. Small changes can lead to significant health benefits.

A Word From Verywell

Suspecting, being diagnosed, and living with prediabetes can be challenging, especially considering the increased risk of type 2 diabetes and related health complications. If you or someone you know is experiencing prediabetes, help is available. Prediabetes is treatable and reversible with healthy behavior changes. Reach out to a healthcare provider for support.