10 signs you may have diabetes and not know it
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10 signs you may have diabetes and not know it
Here’s a concerning statistic from the American Diabetes Association: An estimated 30.3 million people in the United States, or 9.4 percent of the population, have diabetes. Out of that number, one in four people with diabetes don’t even know they have the disease – yet. Diabetes – a disease that occurs when blood glucose or blood sugar become elevated, can lead to serious health problems. These problems include heart disease, nerve damage, eye problems, and kidney disease. When you consider the fact that a person diagnosed with diabetes at age 50, will die 6 years earlier than someone else who does not have diabetes, it is a sobering thought.
What about you? What is the likelihood you would know if you had diabetes or not? Are you familiar with the signs signaling your blood sugar levels are too high and diabetes has already arrived?
Many people may have symptoms but do not associate them with having diabetes. Neglecting to address these symptoms with your doctor will only exacerbate the disease leading to poor health that could have been prevented. By knowing the early symptoms signaling diabetes, the sooner you are assessed and diagnosed with it, the better you can make the necessary lifestyle changes to continue to lead a healthy, long life.
10 early warning signs of diabetes
1. You have frequent urination (polyuria)
You may chalk it up to drinking more fluids but a noticeable increase in having to urinate more frequently throughout the day could also be a sign of diabetes. The increase in urination is due to the kidneys trying to flush out the excess blood glucose circulating in your bloodstream, which is why you are visiting the restroom more often.
2. You are always thirsty (polydipsia)
When you are releasing more urine than usual, this is going to make you thirsty. However, some people who are not aware they have diabetes yet quench their thirst with sugary beverages like soda or sweet tea which only adds to their elevated blood glucose making the situation worse.
3. Your vision has become more blurry
Blurry vision is a common and often ignored symptom of diabetes. It’s not unusual for your optometrist to be the first doctor to suspect you have diabetes. You go to them because you are having blurry vision and they may suggest you see your primary care physician for further testing to rule out diabetes. When blood sugar levels are elevated, fluid can form in your eye’s lens blurring vision. Once blood sugar levels are under control, the blurred vision clears up.
4. You notice numbness in your hands or feet
All of us can get numbness in our limbs but numbness in diabetes is common. A common complication of diabetes is neuropathy, a condition characterized by numbness or weird sensations such as a “pins and needles” feeling in your hands, arms, legs, or feet. Over half of people with type 2 diabetes have poor circulation due to this condition. The reason is because diabetes reduces blood flow to the extremities and over time and can damage the blood vessels and nerves in these areas of the body.
5. Anytime you get a cut, it takes a long time to heal
Uncontrolled diabetes makes it harder for your body to heal – the high blood sugars provide a good environment for bacteria to grow. Poor circulation, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, which often accompany diabetes, can be other factors contributing to slow healing or cuts or wounds. People with diabetes are prone to plaque buildup narrowing blood vessels and reducing blood supply to the areas needed healed. Diabetes also weakens the T-cells that make up your immune system, your body’s defense against infection.
6. You notice dark patches in the folds of your skin
A skin condition called acanthosis nigricans is most common in people with type 2 diabetes. It’s characterized by darkened and thickened skin and is found typically on the sides or back of the neck, the armpits, under the breast, groin, and possibly the tops of your knuckles. It sometimes looks like a small wart, slightly raised or velvety-looking, and where the skin has become tan or brown. This development in the skin is often due to insulin resistance, which is a buildup of glucose in the blood.
7. You are extremely tired
Our body’s main source of energy comes from carbohydrates. All plant-based foods (fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, beans) and milk and yogurt contain carbohydrates. Normally our body is able to break these carbs down into glucose to provide energy to the cells of our body. But when you have uncontrolled diabetes, the glucose is unable to enter into the cells which can lead to you feeling very fatigued. There can always be other reasons for excessive tiredness such as your diet, stress, or lack of sleep, but if there is no other good reason for feeling wiped-out, it’s worth getting checked into.
8. You are having more infections than usual
One type of infection, particularly for women, that you may notice has increased, is yeast infections. High blood sugars create an environment in areas such as the vagina making it likely for a yeast infection to occur. Glucose is fuel for year and the more that is present, the more they can multiple. If you are having more than yeast infections than usual, it’s time to see a doctor. Once blood sugar is controlled, the frequency will reduce.
9. Sexual issues begin to occur
Surprise or not, diabetes can even affect what happens or doesn’t in the bedroom. One issue can be low libido or sexual desire affecting both men and women. This is often a result of poorly controlled diabetes. Low testosterone, again in both men and women, can be another driver negatively affecting your sex life when having diabetes. Men, are suddenly having trouble getting an erection (erectile dysfunction), should consider that one reason why could be due to diabetes.
10. Your appetite is out of control (polyphagia)
If you are constantly craving something to eat, it could be a sign of diabetes. Polyphagia, or being hungry all the time, is when you experience excessive hunger and food consumption, but since the glucose from the food cannot be used, the cells begin to starve leading you to feel constant hunger. Since the glucose cannot get inside the cells, blood sugar levels will be higher than normal. Since most people with excessive hunger eat more to “fix” this feeling, this only increases the problem leading to even high blood sugar levels.