Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions of people around the world. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 9% of Americans are living with diabetes, and 1.5 million Americans are diagnosed with it each year. Diabetes is a disease that occurs when the level of blood sugar (blood glucose) is too high and may be due to insulin resistance (type 2 diabetes) or an inability to produce insulin (type 1 diabetes).Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed during childhood, while type 2 diabetes can develop at any age, but is more common in older populations. Prediabetes occurs when the blood sugar level is identified as higher than normal, but not high enough to be type 2 diabetes.
It's important to be aware of the warning signs of diabetes so that you can take steps to prevent it from progressing to type 2 diabetes. Here are 10 warning signs of diabetes you should never ignore:1.Feeling Thirstier Than Usual
When your blood sugar level is high, your kidneys expel excess blood sugar, causing you to urinate more often. This will make you constantly feel thirsty.
2.Urinating Frequently
Frequent urination is one of the first warning signs of diabetes and can be urgent enough to wake you up to go to the bathroom while you sleep.
3.Losing Weight Without Trying
When your body cannot use glucose for energy, it starts to burn fat and muscle, leading to weight loss. Unexplained weight loss is considered significant at 10 pounds or 5% of total body weight.
4.Presence of Ketones in the Urine
Ketones are a byproduct of fat breakdown and can be detected in the urine when your body does not have enough insulin.
5.Feeling Tired and Weak
When your blood sugar level is high, your body works hard to get rid of excess sugar.
This process not only affects the body, but it also alters how the body uses glucose for energy.
6.Feeling Irritable or Having Other Changes in Mood
High blood sugar levels can cause mood swings and irritability.
7.Having Blurred Vision
Damaged eye tissue caused by high blood sugar levels can lead to blurred vision.
8.Having Sores That Heal Slowly
Damaged blood vessels weaken blood circulation, making it more difficult for blood to reach affected areas and causing minor cuts or wounds to take weeks or months to heal.
9.Knowing Someone With Diabetes or Having Diabetes Hereditary
Do you know someone with diabetes, or is diabetes hereditary? Most likely, the answer to at least one of these questions is yes, because diabetes is quite common.
10.Having Gestational Diabetes During Pregnancy
Gestational diabetes occurs in pregnant women when their bodies cannot produce an adequate amount of insulin during pregnancy.If you experience any of these warning signs of diabetes, it's important to see your doctor right away for a diagnosis and treatment plan. With early diagnosis and treatment, you can take steps to prevent type 2 diabetes from developing.
