Diabetes mellitus is a real problem of the XNUMXst century, millions of people get sick, and the lifestyle and poor eating habits contribute to the constant increase in the disease. In Poland, about half of the sick people do not know that they have diabetes or pre-diabetes. What should worry us and make us see a doctor? There are several characteristic symptoms that should not be underestimated. Doctors tell what the first signs of diabetes are.
- Diabetes is one of the fastest-spreading civilization diseases in the XNUMXst century.
- About 3 million people suffer from illness in Poland. It is estimated that there may be twice as many sick people, but half of them do not know about their disease yet
- Diabetes mellitus, especially if left untreated, can lead to very serious health complications
- The first symptoms of diabetes can be surprising and can be easily mistaken for neglect or stress
- You can find more such stories on the TvoiLokony home page
According to current data, in the United States alone, approximately 37 million people have diabetes, and 96 million have prediabetes. In Poland, the situation is also bad – as many as 3 million people have diabetes, and this data only includes patients who are already diagnosed. Most people suffer from type 2 diabetes, the main cause of which is primarily bad habits.
Untreated diabetes can lead to very unpleasant and severe health consequences, the most serious of which are blindness, heart attack, stroke, diabetic foot (the risk of amputation of the limbs) and neurological disorders. Not only is prophylaxis of key importance, but also knowing the early symptoms of diabetes, which must not be ignored.
The first signs of diabetes
These are the first signs of diabetes recognized by doctors. Check what should make you alert.
1. Obesity
Obesity is strongly associated with type 2 diabetes. Not everyone who is obese will have diabetes, but almost everyone with type 2 diabetes will be overweight or obese. If you have noticed that you are starting to gain weight or have difficulty losing unnecessary kilograms despite following the diet – see a doctor and do the tests. At Medonet Market, you can buy a package of tests to check if you may have diabetes – check the offer HERE.
2. Increased hunger and thirst
Increased thirst and hunger are classic early symptoms of type 2 diabetes. No matter how much you drink, you still feel thirsty. Unfortunately, sugar has a very negative effect on the body’s tissues. They become dehydrated when high blood glucose levels are maintained. The mechanism is very simple – the body takes up water reserves stored in the tissues to thin the blood and thus lower blood glucose levels. As a result, the tissues are dehydrated and require more water – as a result, you still feel thirsty. It is also associated with increased urination.
The second symptom is unsatisfied appetite. Even after eating, you may still feel hungry. The more sugar in the blood, the higher the production of insulin – unfortunately, over time, tissues become resistant to it and insulin stops “knocking down” high sugar – this condition is insulin resistance. The muscles do not get the energy they need from food because the tissues’ insulin resistance prevents glucose from entering them. Sugar gets trapped rather than used, so tissues constantly send a message about the need to eat something and provide energy to the body.
3. More frequent visits to the toilet
Another early sign of diabetes is a frequent need to urinate. Excess blood sugar also passes into the urine. The kidneys try to get rid of the excess glucose, which means you have to urinate very often. Another reason why the bladder is often overfilled is that people with diabetes drink a lot more fluids. Frequent urination is a classic symptom of diabetes. A load of high blood sugar can lead to a serious complication – diabetic nephropathy.
4. Vision problems
Doctors warn that blurred vision and decreased vision may be symptoms of type 2 diabetes. Early changes may include bleeding in the retina, which may not affect your vision at all at first. Over time, macular edema can develop at virtually any stage of the disease, often leading to blurred vision.
Have your eyes checked regularly, at least once a year, unless your ophthalmologist recommends more frequent visits. Remember that initially the changes may not show any symptoms and preventive examinations may save your eyesight. Early detection of a problem in diabetes increases the chance of preventing vision loss and disease development.