This document discusses 5 hidden signs that a person may have diabetes. These include blurred vision, itching of the genital area, slow healing of wounds, nausea and vomiting, and dizziness. It explains that while diabetes can be managed once diagnosed, delayed diagnosis can lead to serious complications like amputation and blindness. It emphasizes that the symptoms of type 1 and type 2 diabetes are similar, but type 1 symptoms tend to come on more quickly and can make a person very ill if not diagnosed immediately.
2. And while diabetes - a lifelong condition - can be successfully
managed once it’s diagnosed, delaying that diagnosis puts
people at risk of serious complications, including amputation and
blindness.
This is a key concern for Type 2 diabetes, the type associated
with weight which accounts for around 90% of all cases.
Type 2 occurs when the body can no longer make enough insulin
(a hormone produced by the pancreas which enables us to use
sugar/glucose), or the insulin being produced isn’t doing its job
properly.
Type 1, on the other hand, has absolutely nothing to do with
weight or lifestyle and tends to develop during childhood when a
fault in the body causes insulin-producing cells to be destroyed.
3. “The symptoms of Type 1 and Type 2 are very similar, however they
tend to come on a lot quicker in Type 1, and you can end up very
poorly and in hospital if not diagnosed straight away,” says Diabetes
UK clinical advisor Libby Dowling.
“Type 2 is a little different. A lot of people put the symptoms of Type
2 down to getting older, and the condition can sometimes go
undiagnosed for up to 10 years, by which time complications could
have started to develop.”
4. 1. Blurred vision
If your vision isn’t as sharp as it used to be, or you’re
struggling to see fine details clearly and have more floaters
than usual, it could be due to diabetes, as blood sugar
disruptions may cause the eye’s lens to become dry or
swollen.
One or both eyes may be affected. Always get eye symptoms
checked out; if not diabetes, they could be due to something
else that needs treating.
5. 2. Itching down below
Countless things can cause itchy genitals, from skin sensitivities
and allergies.
Another cause is thrush, or yeast infections, which are very
common and easy to treat – and which can repeatedly strike if you
have Type 2 diabetes.
This is because the associated high glucose levels in blood or urine
provide the perfect breeding ground for troublesome yeast.
6. 3. Slow healing wounds
If minor cuts, burns and grazes suddenly seem to take ages to
heal, it could be a sign that something’s wrong, like a
nutritional deficiency – or potentially diabetes.
If not managed carefully, diabetes can lead to nerve damage
and poor circulation, resulting in slower healing.
7. 4. Nausea and vomiting
Feeling – and being – sick can happen for many reasons, some
of which are serious and many of which aren’t cause for too
much concern.
However, if you notice an increase in unexplained nausea and
sickness, it could be a sign of Type 1 or 2 diabetes, as blood
sugar fluctuations can disrupt the metabolism or cause
dizziness (another possible symptom!), which sometimes
makes people feel sick.
8. 5. Dizziness
As mentioned above, dizziness can be a sign of diabetes, due to
both low blood sugar or dehydration (brought on because
diabetes can make people pee far more than usual).
Again, dizziness doesn’t always spell health disaster, but if it
continues for more than a day or two, or the dizzy spells are
lasting a long time, get checked out by a doc; there could be a
number of causes that need investigating.