Diabetes type 2: Dr Zoe Williams discusses high blood sugar risks
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Diabetes is a serious health condition where blood glucose levels become too high. Getting diagnosed quickly and receiving the right treatment are essential to avoid developing serious health complications. Although there are several common symptoms of diabetes there are some subtle ones that Brits should watch out for.
More than 4.9 million Brits are living with a diabetes diagnosis in the UK today.
An alarming one in ten people over 40 have been diagnosed with type two diabetes according to diabetes.org.uk.
Recognising the symptoms of diabetes is vital, as this condition can be effectively managed when caught early.
If left untreated, however, it can lead to serious complications such as heart disease, strokes, kidney damage and nerve damage.
Although symptoms for those with diabetes vary drastically from person to person there are 10 key signs that should not be ignored.
Needing the toilet more often than normal
Many dismiss an increased need to go to the loo as simply an effect of getting older.
But needing to urinate more often is a common symptom of diabetes and it should not be shrugged off lightly.
The average person should urinate four to seven times a day, if you need to go to the toilet more often, this might be a sign your kidneys are working overtime to flush high levels of sugar from your blood.
If you are waking up multiple times to go in the night this could also be an early indication of diabetes.
Feeling fatigued or weak
Those with diabetes often feel an increased sense of tiredness, this is because when sugar can’t get into your cells to energise them your kidneys will have to work harder to remove the extra sugar.
This may leave the sufferer feeling unusually tired or weak.
Increased appetite
If you find yourself eating more than usual or struggle to feel full even after a large meal this could point towards diabetes.
When blood sugar levels aren’t maintained at a normal level, your brain can be send conflicting messages about the need for food, wrongly sending you signals of hunger despite eating sufficient amounts of food.
Increased thirst
If you feel thirsty even after drinking ample fluids you could have diabetes.
If you find yourself drinking more than four litres of water a day and still find yourself feeling extreme thirst your blood sugar levels may be too high.
Blurred vision
If your vision has suddenly become more blurred this could be a sign of diabetes.
When your sugar levels are very high your vision can blur, but this should clear again once your sugar levels drop.
If you find everyday tasks exhausting this could be a sign that you have developed diabetes,
Five less common symptoms include:
- Pins and needles
- Itchy skin
- Increased skin infections and cuts taking a long time to heal
- Regularly occurring UTIs or yeast infections
- Depression-like symptoms or increased irritable moods
If you experience any of these symptoms for a prolonged period of time you should talk to your GP who will likely run a blood test to check for diabetes
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