You May Have No Symptoms Yet You May Have Diabetes
Every disease should have some specific symptoms, that is how it is detected. In malaria, fever comes with rigor or shivering, in dysentery there are loose motions with gripping pain and so on.But it is possible that there may be no symptoms whatsoever and yet one may have diabetes.
It does not happen in all cases, only in some. But one should know it so that the disease may not damage the body, before the diagnosis is made. In fact, it is essential to detect the disease at the earliest, as it is easier to treat and the chances of complications become less.
What Causes Symptoms in Diabetes?
The main defect in diabetes is raised blood sugar. Certain amount of sugar is present in our blood all the time for providing energy to the tissues. In fasting state, it is between 80-110 mg/100ml and 2 hrs after major meals (PP) between 120-140mg/100ml.
Diagnosis of diabetes is made when fasting blood sugar is > 126 mg/100ml and 2 hrs after meals > 200 mg/100 ml.
If fasting blood sugar is 110-126 mg/lOOml and 2 hrs after meals or 75 g glucose (PP) 140-200 mg/lOOml, one is neither normal nor diabetic, we call it Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT). These patients if followed up may become normal or develop into diabetic later on.
Symptoms of diabetes are caused by raised blood sugar. Diabetes mellitus is a serious, chronic condition of high blood sugar. If left untreated, it may result in blindness, heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure and amputations.
What are the Symptoms of Diabetes?
Early symptoms of diabetes include the following:-
• Extreme thirst
• Frequent urination
• Unexplained weight loss
• Blurry vision that changes from day to day
• Unusual tiredness or drowsiness
• Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
• Frequent or recurring skin, gum or bladder infections
If you have any of these symptoms, call your family doctor right away.
It is easier to treat the disease when detected in the earlier stages.
Most of the diabetic complications are related to duration of uncontrolled disease, so it is important to diagnose it earlier and treat it well.
There are instances when the diagnosis of diabetes is made as the patient consults the doctor for some complications such as sudden loss of vision, heart attack or stroke, carbuncle and still birth of a big baby. These disasters could have been avoided.
Am I at Risk for Diabetes?
The early stage of diabetes have very few symptoms, so you may not know you have the disease. Damage may already be occurring to your eyes, your kidneys and your cardiovascular system even before you notice symptoms.
You have a higher chance of getting diabetes if:
• You’re older than 45 years of age
• You’re overweight
• You don’t exercise regularly
• Your parent, brother or sister has diabetes
• You had a baby that weighed more than 9 pounds or you had gestational diabetes while you were pregnant
• You’re a Black, Hispanic, Native American, Asian or a Pacific Islander
If you have one or more of these risk factors, your doctor may want you to be tested for diabetes. You might also be tested at a younger age and more often than every three years if you have risk factors. Talk to your doctor about your risk of developing diabetes and about a plan for regular testing.