Alarming Development

Fueled largely by rising rates of obesity, diabetes has become a global epidemic. The International Diabetes Federation estimates that 285 million people around the world have diabetes. This total is expected to rise to 380 million by 2025 and 438 million within 20 years if nothing is done to slow down the epidemic. Even more alarming is that many people with diabetes don't know they have it.

Know the symptoms of diabetes

The good news: Diabetes can often be prevented with weight loss, exercise, stress management and a sensible healthy diet. A simple test can also catch the disease in its earliest stage. The trouble with diagnosing diabetes though is that the symptoms often times begin gradually, especially type 2diabetes. Sometimes a doctor can make a diagnosis based on complications from diabetes rather than the diabetes symptoms themselves. For example, vision changes, sores that won’t heal, heart disease and numbness in the feet and legs often prompt a doctor to suspect diabetes. Symptoms may vary and sometimes they are not always present, but there are warning signs we can watch out for.

Here is how to spot red-flag symptoms that may indicate that we may have diabetes.

I am so Thirsty and Hungry

One of the most common symptoms of diabetes is excessive thirst, accompanied by excessive urination. We may feel thirsty despite drinking a lot of water. Even with the inconvenience of frequent trips to the bathroom, we may have an urge to keep drinking.

Diabetes can also cause extreme hunger. We may feel ravenous even after eating a big meal. Oddly enough, diabetes may cause us to lose weight even if we are  overeating. Despite an increased appetite, weight loss occurs because the cells are not receiving the nutrition they require and the glucose, along with its calories, is being washed away with the urine rather than being absorbed by the body. This should be a wake-up call to see a doctor.

It's All a Blur

Blurred vision is the most common visual symptom of undiagnosed diabetes and sometimes the first indication of diabetes we notice. The lens swells and changes shape and we cannot focus properly.

Diabetes can also contribute to cataracts, which cloud  our eyesight and glaucoma, which destroys side vision, usually so slowly it goes ignored. Regular eye exams can catch such problems and they are an important part of our health care.

I am too tired

People with diabetes often experience fatigue because their endocrine system has trouble burning glucose (blood sugar), the body's main source of energy. Many people with diabetes also have other conditions that increase fatigue, such as obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease or kidney damage.

Diabetes can cause irritability, mood swings or depression, leaving us less able to cope with our daily tasks. We just don’t feel well because  our  brain doesn't have the glucose it needs.

This cut won’t heal.

Slow-healing wounds are one of the more troubling signs of diabetes. It may take a long time for even a simple cut or scrape to get better if we have diabetes. This is because the blood supply isn't as good and the immune cells which help heal wounds do not function properly. If not resolved, diabetic wounds can become very dangerous. 

Other symptoms of diabetes include:

Itching of the skin. When our blood glucose is high, our body loses fluid. With less fluid in our body, our skin can get dry and itchy, causing us to scratch and make it sore. Also, dry skin can crack which will allow germs to enter and cause infection. If our blood glucose is high, it feeds germs and makes infections worse. We may get dry skin on our legs, feet, elbows and other places on our body.

Dark, thick, velvety patches in the skin folds, especially around the neck or in the armpit. It is referred to as acanthosis nigricans and is a sign of insulin resistance. Frequent or persistent infections, including gum disease and yeast infections. Yeast infections are among frequent infections caused by diabetes. In fact, recurring yeast infections are sometimes the first sign of diabetes in women

Numbness, tingling or pain in the legs, feet or hands. Persons with diabetes can, over time, develop nerve damage throughout the body. Some people with nerve damage have no symptoms. Others may have symptoms such as pain, tingling, or numbness—loss of feeling—in the hands, arms, feet, and legs. Nerve problems can occur in every organ system, including the digestive tract, heart, and sex organs

Get Tested for Diabetes

Many of the potential signs and symptoms of diabetes aren't specific to the disease and are often absent. Yet diabetes is easy for doctors to spot. A blood test shows if our glucose is normal, pre diabetic or diabetic. Early diagnosis and treatment can reduce complications, such as damage to the heart, eyes, kidneys, nerves or feet.