Early Signs of Diabetes
Diabetes is a serious, chronic disease that can lead to life-threatening complications. The good news is that it’s possible to manage it effectively with medical treatment and healthy lifestyle choices, like eating well and exercising. Diagnosing diabetes as early as possible is preferable, yet it’s thought that millions of Americans have diabetes or prediabetes without realizing it. Consider asking your doctor if you should be screened. If you are diagnosed, a diabetes educator can help.
Onset of Diabetes Symptoms
Your doctor may recommend a diabetes screening test when you reach a certain age, or earlier if you experience some of the possible warning signs of diabetes. With type 1 diabetes, the symptoms develop rapidly—usually over just a few weeks. Type 2 diabetes symptoms tend to develop slowly over a matter of years. Often, the early symptoms are so mild that people just ignore them. Always tell your doctor about any unusual symptoms you’re experiencing, even if they seem to be inconsequential.
Types of Diabetes Symptoms
Excessive thirst and urination are some of the most common indicators of possible diabetes. If you have diabetes, you’ll have high levels of glucose (sugar) in your bloodstream. Your kidneys will work harder to try to get rid of the glucose. The excess glucose can end up being excreted in urine, which is why people with diabetes may urinate more frequently. Frequent urination causes excessive thirst.
Another common warning sign of diabetes is blurry vision. This occurs when too much fluid is removed from the tissues, including your eyes.
Numbness, tingling, and a “pins and needles” sensation in the feet may indicate nerve damage caused by diabetes. This is known as diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
Slow-healing wounds and frequent infections often affect diabetics. This is because diabetes inhibits healthy blood circulation, which is necessary to heal wounds. It’s also thought that diabetes can suppress the immune system.
Primary care and specialty medical services are available at Johnson Memorial Health in Franklin, IN. Here, the Diabetes Care Center offers comprehensive diabetes education and personalized health management plans to suit individual patients. Call (317) 736-3361 to request a referral.
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