How can you tell if you have diabetes?
In this article, we explore the different signs and symptoms of diabetes in women and men, and also the type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
The warning signs and symptoms can be so mild that you may not notice them. This is especially true for type 2 diabetes. Some people don’t find out they have the disease until they experience diabetes-related health complications!
With type 1 diabetes, the symptoms usually appear suddenly, in a matter of days or weeks. They are often more severe, too.
Type 1 Diabetes Symptoms
Type 1 diabetes is a condition wherein your immune system attacks and destroys insulin-making cells in your pancreas. It usually develops in children and adolescents; however, it can also occur in adults.
Despite active research, type 1 diabetes still has no known cure. Treatment and management focuses on managing blood glucose levels with insulin, as well as diet and lifestyle modifications to prevent complications.
Type 1 diabetes symptoms can appear suddenly and may include:
- Extreme thirst
- Increased hunger
- Frequent urination
- Fatigue and weakness
- Blurred vision
- Unexplained weight loss
- Slow-healing cuts, bruises, and wounds
- Bedwetting in a child who usually doesn’t wet the bed
If left untreated, type 1 diabetes can lead to serious health complications that affect major organs in your body, including eyes, blood vessels, heart, kidneys, and nerves. Maintaining a normal blood glucose level can significantly reduce the risk of many diabetes-related complications such as cardiovascular disease, nerve damage, kidney damage, fungal infections, and vision loss.
People with type 1 diabetes can live long, healthy lives. However, if you have type 1 diabetes, you’ll have to keep a close eye on your blood glucose levels. Your doctor will provide you a blood glucose level range that your numbers should stay within – you’ll have to adjust your food, activities, and insulin as necessary.
People with type 1 diabetes require daily insulin injections to keep blood glucose levels under control. There are different types of insulin including rapid-acting, short-acting, intermediate-acting, and long-acting insulin.
Lifestyle changes, including regular exercise and eating a healthy diet are crucial factors in managing type 1 diabetes as well.
People with type 1 diabetes may also benefit from the use of diabetes supplements like Diavit Herbs – an FDA-approved health supplement that can help you maintain healthy blood glucose levels. It is composed of all-natural ingredients, including banaba, turmeric, and ampalaya, all of which provide numerous health benefits.
Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms
Type 2 diabetes is a condition that affects the way your body metabolizes glucose. With type 2 diabetes, your body either resists the effects of insulin or doesn’t produce enough insulin to maintain normal blood glucose levels.
Type 2 diabetes is more common among adults. However, more and more children, adolescents, and young adults are now being diagnosed with this disease due to the rise in obesity and unhealthy lifestyles.
Currently, there’s still no known cure for type 2 diabetes. However, losing weight, regular exercise, eating a healthy diet, oral medications, and supplements like Diavit Herbs can help manage type 2 diabetes.
The symptoms of type 2 diabetes often develop slowly. In fact, you can have type 2 diabetes for years without knowing it. Here are some signs and symptoms that you should watch out for:
- Increased thirst
- Increased hunger
- Frequent urination
- Fatigue
- Unexplained weight loss
- Slow-healing wounds
- Frequent yeast infections
- Pain or numbness in your arms or feet
- Areas of darkened skin (usually in the neck and armpits)
Type 2 diabetes can be easy to ignore, especially in the early stage when you’re feeling alright. However, diabetes can affect many major organs, including your heart, eyes, kidneys, and nerves. Controlling your blood glucose levels can help prevent diabetes-related complications.
Although long-term complications of type 2 diabetes develop slowly, they can be disabling and even life-threatening. Some of the potential complications of diabetes include stroke, heart disease, nerve damage, kidney damage, glaucoma, vision loss, and skin problems.
Healthy lifestyle choices can help prevent type 2 diabetes and diabetes-related complications. If you’ve already been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, lifestyle modification can help prevent further complications. On the other hand, if you have pre-diabetes, lifestyle modification can slow or stop the progression of the disease.
A healthy lifestyle includes eating foods lower in fat and calories, regular exercise (at least 30 minutes every day), maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding being sedentary, smoking cessation, and avoiding excessive alcohol consumption.
Some people who have type 2 diabetes can achieve healthy blood glucose levels with healthy lifestyle choices alone; however, many also require diabetes medications or insulin injections.
The decision about which medications are best depends on several factors, including your age, blood glucose level, and any other health problems you have. Also, your doctor may combine medications from different classes to help better control your blood glucose levels. Some commonly prescribed medications for type 2 diabetes include Metformin, Sulfonylureas, Thiazolidinediones, Meglitinides, and SGLT2 inhibitors.
Aside from these medications, people with type 2 diabetes may also benefit from a diabetes supplement like Diavit Herbs. Diavit Herbs is an FDA-approved health supplement that can help you maintain healthy blood glucose levels. It is composed of all-natural ingredients, including banaba, turmeric, and ampalaya, all of which provide numerous health benefits, including boosting immunity, lowering blood glucose levels, promoting weight loss, and preventing diabetes-related complications.
Gestational Diabetes Symptoms
Gestational diabetes typically shows up in the middle of the pregnancy and usually doesn’t have any symptoms. If you’re pregnant, you should be tested for gestational diabetes between 24 to 28 weeks of pregnancy so you can make necessary changes to protect your health and your baby’s health.
Sintomas ng Diabetes sa Babae (Symptoms of Diabetes in Women)
Looking for specific symptoms of diabetes in women? Here’s what the ladies need to watch out for:
- Oral yeast infections (oral thrush)
- Vaginal itching and pain
- Vaginal yeast infections
- Painful sexual intercourse
- Vaginal discharge
- Lower libido
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Sintomas ng Diabetes sa Lalaki (Symptoms of Diabetes in Men)
Looking for specific symptoms of diabetes in men? Here’s what guys need to watch out for:
- Erectile dysfunction
- Genital thrush
- Reduced muscle mass
- Retrograde ejaculation
- Low testosterone
- Decreased libido
- Sexual dysfunction
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
When to See a Doctor
Nobody wants to call their doctor for every little thing – but we know that treatments for diabetes and diabetes-related health problems are more effective if you start early.
If you experience any of the symptoms above, make sure to consult your doctor. Your doctor may be able to alleviate the symptoms that you’re experiencing. They may even help slow or stop the progression of the disease through better blood glucose control.
Still not sure? Just consult your doctor. Your doctor wants to know everything that’s going on with your health. If it’s no big deal, they will surely let you know. Instead of constantly worrying, just talk to your doctor and put your mind at ease.
