Could You Have Diabetes And Not Even Know It?
Almost one third of people living with diabetes don’t even know they have it. The symptoms of diabetes seem so harmless and often get disregarded as part of just getting older. This blog goes into the main types of diabetes and the most common symptoms related to each of them to help you better understand diabetes and how to identify it before it’s too late.
The three main types of diabetes are Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, and Gestational Diabetes.
Type 1 Diabetes
This type of diabetes has also been called insulin-dependent and immune-mediated diabetes. It occurs when your body can’t produce insulin. The immune system attacks insulin producing cells in the pancreas. This type of diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, and was previously known as juvenile diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes increases the risk of other serious complications such as heart disease, nerve damage, blindness, and kidney damage.
Some of the symptoms include:
- Increased thirst
- Increased urination
- Weight loss even with increased appetite
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Fatigue
- Absence of menstruation
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is the most common type that fails to be diagnosed. It progress slowly and causes symptoms such as skin infections, poor healing, kidney problems, and vision problems. It is ordinary that neither these complications nor the diabetes is diagnosed after years of mild symptoms.
The biggest problem is that people living with diabetes usually have no major symptoms and therefore, don’t seek medical care at all. They just assume the symptoms are a sign of aging. For this reason it’s important to get regularly tested for diabetes especially if you are over the age of 40. Your physician may treat other diseases without even realizing to test for diabetes. You should make testing for diabetes part of your annual checkup, especially if you have any of the symptoms above and fall within the high-risk categories determined by the CDC
Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes occurs during a woman’s pregnancy. Pregnant women who have never had diabetes before but have high blood sugar levels during pregnancy are said to have it. It affects 4 percent of all women during pregnancy.
Symptoms include
- Increased thirst
- Increased urination
- Weight loss in spite of increased appetite
- Fatigue
- Nausea and vomiting
- Frequent infections including those of the bladder, vagina, and skin
- Blurred vision.
Gestational diabetes can often be overlooked during pregnancy. It usually starts with mild symptoms that often can be attributed to other things. It’s important to get tested during pregnancy because the high blood sugars from gestational diabetes can do harm to the baby and sometimes lead to other complications. Most Obstetricians (O.B.’s) these days will recommend, if not, require a glucose test during pregnancy to ensure the safety of both you and your child.
Even if you’re not pregnant, you should make it a priority to get your blood glucose tested. Many pregnant women have gestational diabetes and disregard their symptoms as part of the prenancy. When it comes to you and your baby’s health, getting your blood glucose tested is one of the easiest ways to ensure a pregnancy free of diabetes related complications.
If you’re having any of the symptoms of diabetes described above, it’s critically important to see your healthcare provider and discuss your health concerns, even if you feel fine. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
