Could You Have Diabetes And Not Know It

If You Ignore The Signs Of Diabetes

Its hard to ignore the signs of type 1 diabetes because symptoms can often appear quite quickly. But leaving it untreated can lead to serious health problems, including diabetic ketoacidosis, which can result in a potentially fatal coma.

Although the majority of people with type 1 diabetes are diagnosed in childhood and early adulthood, the symptoms are the same at any age. Adults with type 1 diabetes may not recognise their diabetes symptoms as quickly as children, which could mean their diagnosis and treatment may be delayed.

Type 2 diabetes can be easier to miss as it develops more slowly, especially in the early stages when it can be harder to spot the symptoms. But untreated diabetes affects many major organs, including your heart, blood vessels, nerves, eyes and kidneys. Being diagnosed early and managing your blood sugar levels can help prevent these complications. Use our Know Your Risk tool to check your risk of type 2 diabetes.

When To Call Your Doctor

If you’re older than 45 or have other risks for diabetes, it’s important to get tested. When you spot the condition early, you can avoid nerve damage, heart trouble, and other complications.

As a general rule, call your doctor if you:

• Feel sick to your stomach, weak, and very thirsty
• Are peeing a lot
• Have a bad belly ache
• Are breathing more deeply and faster than normal
• Have sweet breath that smells like nail polish remover

Show Sources

Cleveland Clinic: “Diabetes: Frequently Asked Questions” and “What Is Diabetes?”à ââ¬ÅDiabetes: Preventing Complications,ââ¬ï¿½ ââ¬ÅHyperglycemia .ââ¬ï¿½

University of Michigan Health System: “Type 1 Diabetes.”

National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse: “Am I at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes? Taking Steps to Lower Your Risk of Getting Diabetes.”

Baylor Scott & White Healthcare: “Urinary Frequency” and “Diabetes and Diabetic Neuropathy Hard-to-Heal Wounds.”

Sutter Health: “Question & Answer: Is Sudden Weight Loss a Sign of Diabetes? If So, Why?”

Neithercott, T. Diabetes Forecast, August 2013.

University of Rochester Medical Center: “Diabetic Skin Troubles.”

Joslin Diabetes Center: “Diseases of the Eye” and “Diabetic Neuropathy: What You Need to Know.”

The Nemours Foundation: “When Blood Sugar Is Too High.”

Virginia Mason Medical Center: “Complications.”

Carolinas Health System: “Diabetes: Yeast Infections and Diabetes: What You Should Know.”

Geisinger Health: ââ¬Å3 reasons diabetic wounds are slow to heal.ââ¬ï¿½

When Do People First Experience Symptoms Of Type 1 Diabetes

The majority of people with T1D first experience symptoms in childhood, typically between the ages of 4 and 14. A small number, however, develop symptoms in infancy or toddlerhood.

An even smaller subset of people with type 1 diabetes will be diagnosed as adults, after the age of 20. The onset of type 1 diabetes is slower in adults, so they might experience mild symptoms for a longer period of time before diagnosis than children typically do.

Type 1 diabetes symptoms in children look similar to the symptoms in toddlers and babies, with a few notable differences. Mood swings and irritability, for example, can affect anyone with T1D, but this common symptom might be mistaken for an ordinary temper tantrum in preverbal toddlers, or as colic in younger babies.

Type 1 diabetes symptoms in babies and toddlers include weight loss and stunted growth a condition known as failure to thrive which is rare in adults. Failure to thrive might be the only noticeable symptom of T1D in a baby or toddler, since older children can clue parents in to symptoms such as increased urination or blurred vision.

One important thing we need to point out is that type 1 diabetes is often associated with children, but it happens to adults as well, Dr. Christofides says. Adult-onset, or late-onset type 1 diabetes symptoms look slightly different and can be harder to recognize and diagnose as a result.

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Could You Be Diabetic And Not Know It Three Signs You Cant

Diabetes in Medical terminology is called Diabetes Mellitus. It is a metabolic disease that results in increased blood sugar levels. A hormone called insulin helps in transferring this excessive sugar in the blood to cells for storage or other energy consumption functions. This Diabetes also makes the body incapable of using up the produced insulin or reduces the production of enough insulin. This excess amount of sugar that gets deposited in the blood ends up affecting and damaging eyes, kidneys, heart, and other important organs of the body.

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Getting To Grips With Diabetes

Did you know that there are two forms of diabetes? The first, type 1 diabetes, occurs when the body is unable to produce insulin. It generally starts during childhood and is linked to autoimmune disease.

The second, type 2 diabetes, occurs when the body produces insulin but cannot respond to it effectively. This condition is usually associated with unhealthy lifestyle behaviours and, to some extent, genetic predisposition.

Diabetes type 2 starts as prediabetes, a condition estimated to affect millions of South Africans.

This is a condition where blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for the person to be diagnosed as having type 2 diabetes. This happens when cells in your muscles, fat and liver don’t respond well to insulin and can’t easily take up glucose, also known as insulin resistance, explains Nematswerani.

People can live unaware they are prediabetic. The most important diabetes prevention and management tools are achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight, engaging in regular exercise and following a healthy diet. Unless we implement healthy lifestyle changes, prediabetes can progress to type 2 diabetes.

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How To Tell If You Or Your Child Has Type 1 Diabetes

With Ilana Halperin MD and Elena Christofides MD

Type 1 diabetes is a permanent condition. That means youll likely have to deal with symptoms at least a few times in your life, no matter how diligently you monitor your blood sugar. Were here to empower you with clear answers to all your pressing Qs.

Could You Have Diabetes

Take this test to see if you are at risk for having diabetes. Diabetes is more common in African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. If you are a member of one of these ethnic groups, you need to pay special attention to this test. Write in the points next to each statement that is true for you. If a statement is not true, put a zero. Then add your total score.

1. I am a woman who has had a baby weighing more than nine pounds at birth.

Yes 1 ______

2. I have a sister or brother with diabetes.

Yes 1 ______

3. I have a parent with diabetes.

Yes 1 ______

4. My weight is equal to or above that listed in the chart.

Yes 5 ______

5. I am under 65 years of age and I get little or no exercise.

Yes 5 ______

6. I am between 45 and 64 years of age.

Yes 5 ______

7. I am 65 years old or older.

Yes 9 ______

TOTAL

Scoring 10 or more points: You are at high risk for having diabetes. Only your health care provider can check to see if you have diabetes. See yours soon and find out for sure.

Scoring 3 to 9 points: You are probably at low risk for having diabetes now. But dont just forget about it. Keep your risk low by losing weight if you are overweight, being active most days and eating low-fat meals that are high in fruits and vegetables and whole grain foods. Diabetes is a serious disease that can lead to blindness, heart disease, strokes, kidney failure and loss of a limb.

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What Problems Can Happen With Type 1 Diabetes

Not having the right amount of sugar in the blood can lead to:

• hyperglycemia: This is when blood sugars are too high. Kids with hyperglycemia may be extra thirsty, pee more than usual, and lose weight. High blood sugars can be treated. If they arent, kids can develop health issues later in life.
• diabetic ketoacidosis : This serious condition needs treatment right away. When theres not enough insulin in the body to let the glucose into the cells, the body starts to break down fat instead of sugar. Symptoms of DKA can include nausea, vomiting, belly pain, fast breathing, and, in severe cases, unconsciousness.
• hypoglycemia: This is when blood sugars are too low and can sometime happen when people are being treated for diabetes. Symptoms can include headache, weakness, shakiness, anxiety, and sweating.
• growth and development problems: Some kids might grow slower than their peers or start puberty later than usual.

What Are Severe Complications Of Type 1 Diabetes

Nerve damage. High blood-sugar levels over a long period of time can actually cause your blood to thicken. When this happens, the blood has a harder time moving through your blood vessels and restricts the amount of oxygen and nutrients that can be supplied to your nerves. If left untreated, this can lead to a complication called neuropathy, or nerve damage. Nerve damage, in turn, can cause certain areas of your body to permanently lose sensation. It most commonly affects hands and feet.

Kidney damage. Thickened blood is harder to move through your body and can damage the delicate vessels inside of your kidneys. Over time, the blood vessels in your kidneys can narrow and clog, limiting their function. Because high blood sugar can damage nerves as well, people with type 1 diabetes may not be able to feel nerve signals when their bladder is full. An overfull bladder puts pressure on the kidneys and can damage them even further.

Remember, all of these symptoms and complications can be prevented if you work with your endocrinologist on a blood sugar management plan and system that works for you. Every symptom on this list can absolutely be stopped before it progresses. There is no reason a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes has to lead to anything other than an advanced awareness and understanding of how your body reacts to sugar and what to do to keep it in check when things start to get out of whack.

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Can Diabetes Be Prevented

Type 1 diabetes cant be prevented.

You may be able to reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by managing your weight, staying active, and following a healthy diet. However, genetics and other risk factors may increase your risk despite your best efforts.

If you have any risk factors for diabetes, its important to get regular checkups with your doctor or healthcare professional. This will help prevent diabetes from progressing and causing other serious health complications.

Could You Have Diabetes And Not Know

It has recently been reported that more than half a million people could be living with type 2 diabetes but not know! Britains obesity epidemic has led to soaring levels of type 2 diabetes.

More than 4 million people in the UK now have diabetes, compared with just 1.8 million in 1998. Around 90 per cent of people with diabetes have type 2, which is mostly caused by obesity and leading unhealthy lifestyles.

The study by University of Exeter suggested that national screening should be done to identify cases earlier. In light of recent findings about the increased risk of developing severe complications from COVID-19 amongst people with diabetes, it is more important than ever to raise awareness of the condition and taking care of your health.

So, how can you spot type 2 diabetes? We spoke to Dr Sarah Brewer, who works on the medical advisory board for CuraLin, the all-natural supplement that helps maintain balanced glucose levels, to share her expert advice on what to look out for, what steps you can take to manage type 2 diabetes and who is most at risk.

What kind of symptoms should people look out for?

Feeling more thirsty

Extreme thirst is a common, early symptom of diabetes. Its tied to high blood sugar levels, which cause thirst on their own, and is exacerbated by frequent urination. Often, drinking wont satisfy the thirst.

Frequent urination

Increased hunger

What steps can people take to manage their glucose levels?

Who is most at risk?

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What Exactly Is Prediabetes

Prediabetes involves your blood sugar levels. Youll have too much sugar in your blood, but not enough to meet the criteria for diabetes.

Blood sugar, which is another name for blood glucose, is important to control throughout your life. Blood sugar is the main sugar thats found in your blood. It comes from the food you eat, and its the main source of energy your body uses every day. Your blood carries the sugar to your bodys cells.

Even though prediabetes is not full-blown diabetes, having too much sugar in your blood can still damage your organs especially your kidneys. It may cause you to have too much protein in your urine, which stresses your kidneys.

Risk Factors For Prediabetes

Sometimes the symptoms of prediabetes can go away if you take better care of your health, but they can come back if you fall back into an unhealthy lifestyle.

Its important to be aware of prediabetes, especially if youre over 45 years of age. Youre also at risk for developing prediabetes if you have any of these medical issues:

• Cardiovascular disease

• Unusual fatigue
• Wounds that wont heal fast

A blood test can tell you if you have prediabetes. There are several different types and they are the same tests that diagnose Type 2 diabetes. Talk with your primary care provider to see if they think you need one of these tests.

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A Few Things Could Cause The Sweet Flavor So Its Important To Also Be On The Lookout For Other Diabetes Symptoms

Of course, its not just diabetes that can make your water taste sweet. New medications, low carb diets, and cold or flu viruses can all cause the sugary flavornot to mention the water source itself. Out where I live, I have well water which tastes sweeter. That usually has to do with higher levels of calcium and iron,Philip Junglas, MD, an internal medicine expert, tells Cleveland Clinic.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

The strange taste could also be explained even if youre drinking from a familiar water source such as your tap at home. If youre drinking out of a cup, the smell of the cup influences what you taste. If the cup is just out of the dishwasher, the soap may cause the liquid to taste different compared to a cup that youre drinking out of thats been on the shelf for a few days.

However, something serious may be afoot if you notice a change in the way water tastes along with other symptoms. According to Medical News Today, other warning signs of diabetes include reduced ability to taste the sweetness in foods, blurred vision, excessive thirst, excessive urination, and extreme fatigue. And if youre noticing confusion, nausea and vomiting, or abdominal cramping along with a sweet taste in your mouth, it could be a sign of diabetic ketoacidosis.

What Is The Keto Diet

The goal of a keto diet is to put your body in a state of ketosis. This happens when you minimise your carbohydrate intake to the point that your body starts using up fat and protein stores for energy. During ketosis, your liver turns stored fat into ketones, which are then used for energy.

The menu for a keto diet includes the following types of foods:

• Meat
• Some dairy products, like cheese or cream
• Low-carb vegetables

Unlike paleo, keto is more about tracking your macronutrient intake as well as the quality and types of foods you are eating. On a standard keto diet, youll eat very few carbs, a moderate amount of protein, and a high amount of fat. Generally, your day is broken down as 70% fat, 20% protein, and 10% carbs. Most Ketoers focus on less than 50g of carbs per day but can go as low as 20gs in some cases.

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A Related Complication Can Also Cause A Sweet Fruity Smell And Taste In The Mouth

At a certain point, diabetes may also cause a related complication known as diabetic ketoacidosis. According to Medical News Today, this occurs when the body can no longer break down the sugar it needs to use for fuel and begins using fat instead, causing an acid known as ketones to build up in the body. On top of the sweet taste you may notice, the condition can also cause a fruity smell on your breath.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that diabetic ketoacidosis can be a potentially life-threatening condition, but that it’s also one of the first signs of diabetes in someone who hasn’t been diagnosed yet. In some cases, this can be brought on by getting sick and not eating or drinking as much as you usually do, making it more difficult for your body to manage blood sugar levels.

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How Is Type 1 Diabetes Treated

Type 1 diabetes needs lifelong treatment because there is no cure yet. Doctors treat type 1 diabetes using a diabetes care plan. The care plan tells you and your child the things to do every day to help keep blood sugar levels in a healthy range.

Each childs diabetes care plan is made just for them. But all plans have the same 4 basic parts:

• take insulin
• eat a healthy, balanced diet that includes counting carbohydrates
• check blood sugar levels at least 4 times a day
• get regular physical activity

Following the diabetes care plan helps kids stay healthy, now and into the future.

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