Diabetes is a chronic disease worldwide. It is no mistake to say that if diabetes was a contagious disease, it would have been declared a pandemic long ago, given the fact that every 5 seconds a new diabetic is diagnosed worldwide, according to statistics. Fortunately, most cases of type 2 diabetes can be prevented and the situation can be improved, and thus the quality of life of people with diabetes.
What is type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is when the cells stop responding to insulin, ie insulin is no longer a signal for them to receive glucose. The body’s response is to produce more and more insulin, until the insulin-producing pancreatic cells become “tired”. Although genetic mutations can cause this condition, the main risk factor for it is an inappropriate or unhealthy lifestyle: overweight, a diet high in refined sugars and saturated fats, and reduced physical activity.
As we have mentioned, diabetes is widespread all over the world among people, so a huge number of people with diabetes are undiagnosed, ie those people do not even know they have diabetes. The rate of diagnosed cases can be improved with increased awareness of the symptoms of this disease and with more frequent examinations of high-risk people such as the elderly, those with weight problems, those with genetic predisposition, women with polycystic ovaries, etc.
Symptoms that stand out as early symptoms of diabetes are the following:
- Increased feeling of thirst
Increased loss of body fluids through frequent urination causes an increased need for water. Over time, undiagnosed diabetes can lead to a constant state of dehydration, which will cause constant thirst.
- Dry mouth and skin
Due to the use of more and more fluid from the body to make urine, less remains for all other organs and parts of the body, including the skin.
- Frequent urination
It does not necessarily mean that this symptom is a symptom of this disease, but it is included in symptoms such as frequent urination as a sign that blood glucose levels are high enough, so the kidneys begin to filter excess through the blood. Thus increased filtration leads to more frequent urination.
- Constant feeling of hunger
Diabetics often do not get their energy from the food they eat. Why is this happening? When a person has diabetes, the body has no problem digesting carbohydrate-rich foods and then entering them into the bloodstream, but the problem comes later when glucose units need to be entered into the cells. In fact, energy is produced in the mitochondria of the cells themselves by glucose. Thus, people with uncontrolled sugar lack energy and often feel constantly hungry no matter how long ago they had a meal.
- Blurred vision
Blurred vision occurs when excess blood sugar damages the small blood vessels in the eyes. This condition can only occur in one or both eyes, and blurred vision can be lost and recurred. Uncontrolled long-term blood sugar levels can cause significant damage to the blood vessels in the eyes, and can ultimately lead to complete vision loss. This is another important reason why diabetes should be diagnosed earlier and the condition controlled accordingly.
- Darkening of the skin
Early signs of diabetes can be linear (soft) darkening of the skin in the neck, armpits and / or groin.
- Itching and fungal infections
Yeasts prefer a glucose diet. The level of glucose in the blood of diabetics is constantly high, and the blood circulates throughout the body, which creates favorable conditions for the growth of yeast in different parts of the body, such as the skin, genitals, chest, etc. Infected areas with these yeasts cause discomfort and itching.
- Slower wound healing
High blood sugar can lead to nerve damage. This leads to poor circulation, and poor circulation leads to limited availability of nutrients and oxygen to the wounds. Pain and numbness in the legs and feet are another potential symptom of nerve damage caused by high blood sugar.
- Impotence
High blood sugar levels can cause impotence in both men and women. Do not ignore this symptom and pay attention to it as a possible indicator of high blood sugar.
- Chronic fatigue
It’s okay to feel tired after a hard day’s work, whether it’s physical or mental work, but if your fatigue turns into chronic fatigue, you can check your blood sugar levels to be aware.
Conclusion!
High blood sugar levels can lead to a number of disorders. That is why it is extremely important to balance the diet because it affects our health and blood sugar levels. If you experience any of the above symptoms, it is extremely important to make changes to your diet and try to maintain a healthy and balanced diet to prevent further complications.
