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here is a
scary statistic: more than three and a half million South Africans suffer from
Diabetes. But there is worse: it is estimated that five million people in the south
Africans have pre-diabetes (eg, almost diabetes, when your blood sugar is
are high, but not enough for full diabetes) – and 90% of
these people do not know they have it too.
Remind me what is diabetes
Diabetes is not a disease. There are actually three
types of diabetes: type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. Most people with
Type 2 diabetes – this occurs when your body is not using insulin well and
unable to keep your blood sugar stable, according to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC).
Type 1 diabetes is much less common – only about 5%
people with diabetes have type 1 – and this is basically an autoimmune disease in which your
the body stops producing insulin (and therefore can not regulate blood sugar).
And gestational diabetes occurs in pregnant women – it usually goes
far after your delivery, but this can increase your chances of developing
Type 2 diabetes later, according to the US National Diabetes Institute
and digestive and renal diseases (NIDDK).
The three types of diabetes can easily be detected by blood
test. Essentially, the test checks if your blood glucose (ak.a. blood
sugar) is too high. But be warned: you can not diagnose yourself – even with a
Non-prescription blood glucose meter, according to NIDDK.
Unfortunately, many people walk around without being diagnosed
diabetes or prediabetes because the symptoms are very subtle, says Dr. Poorani
Goundan, an endocrinologist at the Boston Medical Center.
These sneaky symptoms of diabetes could indicate that it's time to take
go to your doctor for a test.
Read more: This new research suggests that diabetes is actually 5 distinct diseases
1. You must pee All the time
When you have an excess of sugar in your bloodstream, your
body, the doctor instinctively tries to get rid of it, says Dr. Mary, endocrinologist
Vouyiouklis Kellis. "The water follows the sugar, so you end up having big volumes
loss of urine, "she explains.
If you notice that you suddenly pee a lot, and more often, without
real reason – especially if you wake up several times during the night to
it's time to talk to your doctor, she says.
2. You never stop drinking water
With all that pisses, dehydration is a real
possibility. And to make matters worse, "some patients who do not know they
diabetes quench your thirst with sugary drinks like soda or juice, which
adds to their blood sugar, "says Goundan. Signs of dehydration include
dark colored urine, a drop of weight (water) and extreme thirst.
Sound familiar? Talk to your doctor about this potential symptom of
diabetes, especially when it occurs at the same time as many breaks in the bathroom.
3. Your breath smells bad
Diabetic dehydration contributes to dry mouth and poor nutrition
the breath that can accompany it. (After all, with dry mouth, there is not enough
spit out to eliminate bacteria and balance the pH in the mouth, says Kellis)
In addition, undiagnosed or uncontrolled diabetes can trigger
ketosis, a process in which the body uses fat rather than glucose to produce energy.
Ketosis releases a chemical byproduct called ketones, which can make your
the breath has an unpleasantly sweet or fruity smell, she says – sometimes she can even smell
like acetone because it's a type of ketone.
Unless you're on a keto diet (designed to put
ketosis), it is worth talking to your doctor.
Read more: 6 ways to make diabetes MUCH easier to manage
4. Your vision becomes more and more blurred
Blurred vision is a common – and often overlooked – symptom of diabetes
women. What does diabetes have to do with your vision? Kellis explains that
Liquid may form in the lens when the level of sugar increases (remember:
follow the sugar).
An accumulation of fluid in the eyes blurs the vision, causes
myopia, and sends many people to the optometrist for new glasses or
prescription of contacts.
Fortunately, controlling your blood sugar level can
clear up blurred vision, she adds.
5. Your hands and feet sleep a lot
Neuropathy – a disease characterized by numbness or a strange condition
sensations such as tingling in the arms, legs, hands and feet – occur in
more than half of people with type 2 diabetes, according to a 2017 Diabetic treatments review.
Why so common? Diabetes reduces blood flow to the extremities
and, over time, damages the blood vessels and nerves, says Kellis.
6. It takes forever to heal your cuts and bruises
A reduced sensation in your extremities makes you more inclined to
injury. "You are less likely to notice a cut because you do not feel it, which
means that you are less likely to take care of it and it is more likely to get
infected, "says Goundan.
Then, once you have an injury, uncontrolled diabetes can make
it is harder for your body to heal. "High blood sugar creates a good environment
for the bacteria to grow, "she says. This is because diabetes is so often
accompanied by high blood pressure and high cholesterol, resulting in
The accumulation of plaque can shrink blood vessels, reduce blood supply and lead to
slow healing.
Diabetes can also weaken the T cells that make up your immune system
system – the defense of your body against infection. "When you have high blood sugar,
it's like delaying the army of your body from going to the wound to heal it, "she says.
Kellis.
7. You lose weight … but do not try to do it.
Unexplained weight loss can occur for many reasons.
diabetes is one of them. Goundan explains that insulin helps your body to move
sugar your blood to your cells so when you have insulin resistance,
you do not get enough energy in your cells despite all that flowing sugar
through your body. "Because you can not get enough sugar energy, your
The body burns your fat and muscles to give you energy, "says Kellis. "Weight loss can
to be quite important, sometimes 4.5 to 9 kilos. "
As a general rule, doctors recommend consulting the doctor if you
unwittingly lose between five and ten percent of your body weight during the
six months course.
Read more: All you really need to know about diabetes
8. You sleep enough, but you are still
tired.
Carbohydrates, which your body breaks down into glucose, are your
main source of energy of the body. But your body can not use this source effectively
energy when you have diabetes, says Goundan. (And related to diabetes
dehydration can also cause fatigue.)
Of course, there are tons of other reasons you might feel
exhausted, including your diet, your stress level and your
sleeping.
However, if you can not think of any other good reason for your
extreme fatigue, and your low energy level are accompanied by some of these
other symptoms of diabetes, it is worth checking.
9. You get a surprising number of yeast
infections
High blood sugar creates a mature environment in your vagina
for Yeast
infections. "Glucose is a fuel for yeast. The more there are, the more
the more they can multiply, "says Kellis.
If you have two to three yeast infections every few months or less
if standard treatments simply do not work, it's time to see a doctor.
"Once the blood glucose is controlled, the frequency decreases," says Goundan.
10. You have dark spots on your skin
Darken the skin around your neck, under your
underarm, or even in your groin area, is a surprising and common early sign of
insulin resistance, precursor of diabetes – medical name of the drug
the condition is acanthosis nigricans (AN).
"We often see it in women with polycystic ovary syndrome
(PCOS), "says Kellis, who notes that women with PCOS are at increased risk
insulin problems. If you notice new dark spots on your skin, they are worth it.
check with your doctor.
Read more: 7 dietary exchanges for diabetes that anyone wishing to lose weight should know
11. You really feel tingled all the time
People with diabetes often suffer from itching caused by yeast
infections (which can also occur on the skin), dry skin or poor circulation,
according to the American Diabetes Association.
If bad circulation is to blame, your legs will be the most irritating areas.
According to the ADA, you can treat the itch yourself by limiting
how much you swim (especially in less humid climates), using soap with
integrated moisturizer and remember to apply the lotion immediately after washing
up.
This article was originally
published on womenshealthmag.com
Image credit: iStock
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