SNEAKY SIGNS OF DIABETES

What Is It?
When you have this disease, your body does a poor job turning the carbohydrates in food into energy
This causes sugar to build up in your blood. Over time it raises your risk for heart disease, blindness, nerve and organ damage, and other serious conditions
It strikes people of all ages, and early symptoms are mild
About 1 out of 3 people with type 2 diabetes don't know they have it

What Will You Notice First?
People with type 2 diabetes often have no symptoms
When they do appear, one of the first may be being thirsty a lot
Others include dry mouth, bigger appetite, peeing a lot,sometimes as often as every hour, & unusual weight loss or gain

Later Symptoms
As your blood sugar levels get higher, you may have other problems like headaches, blurred vision & fatigue

Signs of Serious Problems
In many cases, type 2 diabetes isn't discovered until it takes a serious toll on your health
Some red flags include:
Cuts or sores that are slow to heal
Frequent yeast infections or urinary tract infections
Itchy skin, especially in the groin area

It Can Affect Your Sex Life
Diabetes can damage blood vessels and nerves in your genitals
This could lead to a loss of feeling and make it hard to have an orgasm
Women are also prone to vaginal dryness
About 1 in 3 who have diabetes will have some form of sexual trouble
Between 35% and 70% of men who have the disease will have at least some degree of impotence in their lifetime

Risk Factors You Can Control
Some health habits and medical conditions related to your lifestyle can raise your odds of having type 2 diabetes, including:
Being overweight, especially at the waist
A couch potato lifestyle
Smoking
Eating a lot of red meat, processed meat, high-fat dairy products, and sweets
Unhealthy cholesterol and triglyceride levels   

Risk Factors You Can't Control
Other risk factors are out of your control, including:
Race or ethnicity: Hispanics, African-Americans, Native Americans, and Asians are more likely to get it
Family history of diabetes: Having a parent or sibling with diabetes boosts your odds
Age: Being 45 and older raises your risk of type 2 diabetes
The more risk factors you have, the more likely you'll get type 2 diabetes

Risk Factors for Women
You're more likely to get type 2 diabetes later on if you:
Had gestational diabetes when you were pregnant
Delivered a baby that weighed over 9 pounds
Had polycystic ovary syndrome

How Does Insulin Work?
In a healthy person, insulin helps turn food into energy.
Your stomach breaks down carbohydrates into sugars
They enter the bloodstream, prompting your pancreas to release the hormone insulin in just the right amount 
It helps your cells use the sugar for fuel

Metabolism Mishaps
In type 2 diabetes, your cells can’t use sugar properly
That means there's a lot of it in your blood
If you have a condition called insulin resistance, your body makes the hormone, but your cells don’t use it or respond to it like they should
If you’ve had type 2 diabetes for a while but haven’t treated it, your pancreas

How Is It Diagnosed?
Your doctor will take some blood &do an A1c test
It shows your average blood sugar level over the past 2-3 months
If you already have symptoms, he might give you a random blood glucose test, which shows what your current level is

Your Diet Makes a Difference
You can control blood sugar levels by changing your diet & losing extra weight
That will also cut your risk of complications
Carefully track the carbs in your diet
Keep amounts the same at every meal, watch how much fat and protein you eat & cut calories
Ask your doctor to refer you to a dietitian to help you make healthy choices & an eating plan

Exercise Is Important
Regular exercise, like strength training or walking, improves your body's use of insulin & can lower blood sugar levels
Being active also helps get rid of body fat, lower blood pressure & protect you from heart disease
Try to get 30 minutes of moderate activity on most days of the week

Relaxation Is Key
Stress can boost your blood pressure & blood sugar
Some people don't do anything for it
Others turn to food to cope with it
Instead, practice relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or visualization
Talking to a friend, family member, counselor, or a religious leader could help
If you can’t beat it, reach out to your doctor

Oral Medications Can Help
If diet and exercise can’t get your blood sugar under control, your doctor may add medication
There are many types of diabetes pills available
1. They’re often combined
2. Some work by telling your pancreas to make more insulin
3. Others help your body use it better or block the digestion of starches
4. Some slow insulin breakdown

Insulin: It's Not Just for Type 1
Your doctor may prescribe insulin early in your treatment & combine it with pills
It can also help people with type 2 diabetes who develop "beta-cell failure"
This means the cells in your pancreas no longer make insulin when blood sugar is high
If this happens, insulin will become part of your daily routine

New Non-Insulin Injectables
New drugs called non-insulin injectables are available for people with type 2 diabetes
These medications cause your body to make insulin to control blood sugar levels

Why Blood Sugar Testing Matters
Your doctor can show you how to use a glucose meter to check your blood sugar
This lets you know how your treatment plan is working
How often and when you test will be based on how well controlled your diabetes is, the type of treatment you use & how stable your blood sugar is
Common testing times are when you wake up, before & after meals and exercise & at bedtime

Heart and Artery Troubles
If you don't treat diabetes with a healthy diet & exercise, you're more likely to get plaque in your arteries than people who don't have it
This sticky substance slows blood flow & increases your risk of clots
It leads to hardening of the arteries (called atherosclerosis), which makes you more likely to have a heart attack or stroke
About 2 of 3 people with diabetes die of heart disease

Kidney Complications
The longer you have diabetes, the greater the chance you’ll get chronic kidney disease
Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure
It's to blame for about half of new cases
Controlling your blood sugar, blood pressure & cholesterol can lower your risk for this complication
Yearly tests & medications can slow the disease and keep your kidneys healthy

Eye Problems
High blood sugar can damage the tiny blood vessels that bring oxygen & nutrients to the retina, a critical part of your eye
This is known as diabetic retinopathy & it can lead to vision loss
It’s the leading cause of new cases of blindness in people between the ages of 20 & 74

Diabetic Nerve Pain
Over time, uncontrolled diabetes & high blood sugar can cause nerve damage
Symptoms include tingling, numbness, pain & a pins and needles sensation often in your fingers, hands, toes, or feet
The damage can’t be reversed, but there are treatments
Controlling your diabetes can help prevent further harm

Foot Injuries Can Take a Toll
Diabetic nerve damage can make it hard to feel your feet
You might not notice wounds
At the same time, hardening of the arteries reduces blood flow to the area
Even a small injury can cause foot sores & gangrene
In severe cases, infections can result in an amputation

Teeth and Gums Are Targets
High blood sugar levels can feed the bacteria that make plaque
Plaque buildup leads to cavities, tooth decay & gum disease
Severe gum disease can cause tooth loss
It weakens gums & the tissues & bones that hold teeth in place
That makes it easier to get an infection, too

Can It Be Prevented?
One of the most surprising things about type 2 diabetes is that you can avoid it
To lower your risk, follow the same guidelines for warding off heart disease:
Eat a healthy diet
Exercise for 30 minutes, 5 days a week
Stay at a healthy weight
Talk to your doctor about being tested for pre-diabetes
People with prediabetes can avoid getting diabetes with lifestyle changes & medication

 

 

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