According to the American Diabetes Association, of the 30.3 million American adults with diabetes, approximately 23.1 million were diagnosed, and a vast majority, i.e., 7.2 million were undiagnosed. It is alarming as delayed diagnosis of diabetes can lead to complications such as heart disease, strokes, amputations, vision loss, and kidney damage.
Here is a list of sign and symptoms one should look out for:
- Frequent urination: High glucose levels lead to more glucose to be filtered through the kidneys, which leads to increased fluid filtration. This process results in increased fluid loss and increased frequency in urination. Patients usually complain that they have to wake up several times overnight for urination
- Extreme thirst and dry mouth: Diabetes patients have increased the loss of fluids from urination because of excessive glucose filtration in the kidneys. This loss of fluid can lead to dehydration, which presents as increased thirst and dry mouth.
- Excessive fatigue – This is more of a non-specific symptom.
- Constant hunger – Loss of glucose and underutilization of glucose by the cells as an energy source is thought to cause increased appetite.
- Weight loss – insulin deficiency leads to glucose cannot enter the cells – and overall leads to weight loss. This weight loss is due to diet restriction and exercise.
- Blurred vision – dehydration and excessive glucose levels lead to blurred vision. Eventually can lead to loss of sight.
- Healing gets slow – Increased levels of glucose affect immune systems negatively, which may increase vulnerability to infections as well as delayed wound healing.
- Irritably – changes in blood sugar levels can increase anxiety and stress.
- Yeast infections – increased glucose levels do affect the immune system, increasing the risk of yeast infections.
- Numbness and Tingling in feet – This may happen as increased glucose levels damage the nerves affecting the extremities, a process named neuropathy
- Darkened skins: Patients may have black areas in the creases of the back of the neck, groin, and armpit – called acanthosis nigricans.
- Headaches – Some patients complain of headaches.
If you have similar symptoms, it is not a bad idea to get yourself screened for Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 by your primary healthcare provider. There are simple blood tests such as fasting blood glucose levels or hemoglobin A1c (a test to check your 90-day average sugar levels) that are readily available. In some cases, the glucose tolerance test is done. Getting screened and treated in a timely fashion will delay the progression of diabetes as well as help prevent its complications.
Photo credits: Anis Rehman MD – Finnich Glen just north of Glasgow, Scotland, the UK.
