Many people have diabetes – about 1.5 million are diagnosed each year in the United States, and 1 in 10 Americans – you think it would be easy to see. But although the condition is relatively common, many people make the diagnosis, as the initial symptoms may be vague, easily ignored at first, or confused in other situations.
From here Eat this, don’t eat that! Health Your body sends the first signal when you have diabetes. Read on, and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these fixed signs that the coronavirus has already done.
A common early sign of diabetes is increased thirst, as diabetes produces sugar (glucose) in the bloodstream. Normally, the kidneys process glucose, but when it overflows, excess glucose is excreted from your urine. Water from other tissues of the body is drawn along with it, leaving you dehydrated and thirsty fluid in place of what you have lost.
RX: Experts like Harvard Medical School recommend drinking four to six cups of water daily. If you are hydrating enough, but you have increased thirst, talk to your doctor.
In early diabetes, the body will increase the production of urine, it will try to excrete more blood sugar, and you will find yourself going more often. “It’s important to know what’s normal for your body,” says Leah Tracy, RD, LDN, CDE, Registered Dietitian and Diabetes Program Coordinator here. Mercy Medical Center In Baltimore. “The average individual urinates between seven and eight times a day, but for some, 10 times per day is normal.”
RX: “Talk to your primary care physician right away if you urinate more than your standard and especially if you wake up in the middle of the night to urinate often,” says Tracy.
Blood glucose rises uncontrollably due to diabetes. At the same time, it prevents cells from using glucose for rejuvenation. Lack of energy can make you hungry.
RX: “If you notice that you are constantly hungry even though you have just eaten regular meals and snacks during the day, you should talk to your doctor,” says Tracy.
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Because diabetes raises blood sugar at the same time, it prevents the body from using it for energy, which can make you bored. Frequent urination also disturbs your sleep.
RX: There is a difference between fatigue and exhaustion. General fatigue gets better after resting. But if you are tired even though you have enough sleep, it is worth discussing with your doctor.
According to the Mayo Clinic, high levels of glucose pull fluid from your tissues, including the lens of your eyes. This can cause your ability to focus and blur. Diabetes also causes new blood vessels to form in the retina, damaging the established vessels. If those changes are not treated, they can cause vision loss.
RX: If you are experiencing any signs of diabetes such as blurred vision, it is important to see your doctor ASAP, and regularly if you are diagnosed. “Diabetes is a progressive disease, even in patients with excellent lifestyles,” he says Sarah Rittinger, MD, An endocrinologist at Providence St. John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California.
Diabetes can cause skin injuries, such as cuts and bruises, slow healing. High blood sugar can harden blood vessels, slow blood flow and cut off oxygen and nutrients and protect from bruising and healing. Diabetes also weakens the immune system, slowing down the body’s natural repair processes.
RX: If you find that cuts or bruises in the past do not heal as quickly, see your healthcare provider.
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Losing weight without making any changes to diet or exercise may seem great, but the definition of being very good is true: it can indicate a serious health condition such as hyperthyroidism, cancer or diabetes. When diabetics lose glucose through frequent urination, they also lose calories. Diabetes can also keep cells from absorbing glucose from the diet, and the body can begin to burn its fat stores as fuel. Both can lead to weight loss.
RX: If you are shedding pounds without trying, see your doctor and ask if you should be tested for diabetes.
Diabetes can lead to a type of nerve damage called neuropathy, which causes tingling or numbness in your extremities, such as the hands or feet. This is dangerous because naive cuts or injuries can make it easier to ignore, and because diabetes can cause wounds to heal more slowly, difficulties can result.
RX: Be aware of what is going on with your body, and if you experience any unusual pain, numbness or tingling in your hands or feet, see a healthcare provider without delay.
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“People don’t always have the symptoms of diabetes,” he says Christine Arthur, M.D., An internist at Memorial Care Medical Group in Irvine, California. “Sometimes they consider fatigue associated with weight gain, persistent starvation and high insulin levels, but these symptoms can be present in other conditions as well, so it is important to have a blood test to find out what is causing it.”
RX: Check your HgbA1c (sometimes referred to as “A1c”) level with a blood test every year during your routine checkup.
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