Diabetes is a common condition that affects more than four million people in the UK, and 90 percent of all cases are caused by type 2 diabetes. You could be at risk of high blood sugar if you develop these six key warning signings of the condition.
Type 2 diabetes could be caused by the body not producing enough of the hormone insulin, or the body not reacting to insulin.
Without enough of the hormone, the body struggled to convert sugar in the blood into usable energy.
It’s crucial that if you think you may have diabetes, you speak to a doctor as soon as possible.
But, it may be difficult to know if you’re at risk, especially as some of the symptoms may be difficult to spot.
Unexplained weight loss is one of the main signs of diabetes, but it could be easily mistaken for something else, warned Dr Prash Vas; a consultant in diabetes and diabetic foot medicine at London Bridge Hospital (part of HCA UK).
You should consider speaking to a doctor if you lose more than five percent of your total bodyweight over a 12-month period, when you didn’t mean to.
Meanwhile, other symptoms may include persistent tiredness, blurred vision, and constant infections.
Some patients may also find that they have headaches that won’t go away – even after taking painkillers.
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“The symptoms of type 2 diabetes develop slowly, and many individuals are asymptomatic with the condition often picked up incidentally or during health check-ups,” said Vas.
“The three most common symptoms include increased thirst, a higher frequency of urination [especially at night] and increased hunger.
“Less well recognised symptoms include unintended weight loss, constant fatigue, blurry vision, headaches, and frequent infections such as thrush or skin infections or wounds that take time to heal.
“Not infrequently, the existence of type 2 diabetes is picked up when individuals simply present with a major complication of diabetes – such a heart attack, stroke or a foot ulcer.”
Many of these symptoms won’t necessarily make you feel unwell, so it could be difficult to spot signs of the condition.
But, if you’re worried that you may be at risk of the condition, you should speak to a doctor.
A quick blood test will reveal whether your blood sugar levels are outside of the ‘normal’ range.
It’s essential that diabetes is diagnosed as soon as possible, as it raises the risk of some deadly complications, including heart disease and strokes.
Meanwhile, if you already have diabetes, you could lower your risk of high blood sugar by making just a few diet or exercise swaps.
Certain foods will be raising your risk of hyperglycaemia, as they may be rich in sugar.
Exercise is crucial to managing your blood sugar levels. Aerobic exercises, including jogging and swimming, are ideal workouts for diabetes patients.
Everyone should aim to do at least 150 minutes of exercise every week.
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