Diabetes, if left untreated, can
cause severe harm to your body.
When it comes to health news, COVID and cancer are commonly
discussed. That is correct. These ongoing health crises require public
awareness because early detection and prevention can significantly reduce their
killing ability. However, the same may be said for another less well-known
epidemic but equally dangerous: diabetes. In the United States today, more than
11% of the population has diabetes, while more than 8.5 million people are
undiagnosed. Diabetes is harmful if left untreated since it can have severe and
wide-ranging effects on the body. Read on to learn more about when you might
start to notice symptoms and what they might be.
1. This Is When You'll Begin to Feel Symptoms
Type 1 diabetes, most commonly diagnosed in children, can develop
quickly, with symptoms appearing in a couple of weeks or months.
However, Type 2 diabetes, directly influenced by diet and
lifestyle choices, is the leading cause of diabetes in the United States. Those
symptoms can take a long time to appear, and you may not notice them at first.
"Type 2 diabetes symptoms can take years to develop,"
according to the CDC, which also describes the signs as "difficult to
notice." "Some people are completely unaware of any symptoms. Type 2
diabetes normally strikes adults, although it increasingly affects children and
adolescents."
2. Even Mild Diabetes Can Be Dangerous
According to the Cleveland Clinic, "high blood sugar can
sneak up on you without any obvious symptoms." "Even a small increase
in blood sugar levels can harm your nerves, kidneys, and retinas. And the
higher your blood sugar levels and the longer you go without treatment, the
worse the damage might get."
Some of the most frequent diabetes symptoms may be the first ones
you notice. Here's what the experts say you should watch out for.
3. Frequent Urination
Someone with diabetes may need to urinate more frequently than in
the past, getting up in the middle of the night to do so. When blood sugar
levels in the body rise, urine output naturally rises to flush away the excess.
It's also possible that your urine is cloudy or that it smells sweet or
delicious.
4. Thirst Increase
Dehydration can result from frequent urination, making you thirsty
all the time. The situation is made worse because excess blood sugar pulls
water from the body's surrounding tissues as it leaves the body, making you dry
even more. If you're thirstier than usual and water doesn't satisfy you as well
as it used to, it's a red signal that should be brought to your doctor's
attention.
5. Increased Hunger or Unintentional Weight Loss
Diabetes increases the amount of glucose in the bloodstream while
also blocking cells from utilizing that glucose for energy. This can have two
results: You may feel constantly hungry as your power muscles yell for food,
and your body may begin to burn fat stores for energy, causing you to lose
weight without even trying.
6. Tingling or Burning Hands or Feet
Diabetic neuropathy is a condition in which high blood sugar
destroys nerves all over the body. Peripheral neuropathy, which affects the
feet, legs, hands, and arms, is the most frequent type. It can cause nerve
damage, burning, numbness, decreased sensitivity to pain or temperature, or
severe pains or cramps in the affected areas. At night, the symptoms tend to
get worse.
7. Blurry Vision
Diabetic retinopathy is a condition that causes blurry or double vision. Diabetic retinopathy can cause blood vessels in the retina to leak or develop irregularly, causing vision problems. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, it is the leading cause of blindness in American adults.