How to recognise if you have diabetes

It is worthwhile knowing your diabetes status and taking necessary actions.

The good news is that at least half the number of diabetes patients can prevent or delay the onset of diabetes by simple lifestyle modifications. The bad news is: at least 50% of diabetics are not aware that they have diabetes. They are not aware of signs and symptoms which can help them recognise if they have diabetes, and manage it accordingly before it causes damage to vital organs.

Pic: wikimedia commons

What then should alert you if you are at risk of diabetes, or have diabetes. Some of the common symptoms that should alert you are:

  • Increased appetite
  • Increased thirst
  • Increased urination.
  • Increasing fatigue, sometimes nausea and vomiting.
  • Unexplained weight loss, in spite of good appetite.
  • Headaches.
  • Blurred vision
  • Impotence
  • Delayed healing of cuts and wounds
  • Numbness and tingling of hands and feet.

In a few cases, the first signs may be certain complications. The common complications of diabetes include neuropathy due to involvement of peripheral nerves, leading to tingling sensation in hands and feet. In feet, the altered sensory input means that they are more prone to get ulcers on foot, or toes. This may be further complicated with peripheral circulation issues. Diabetes can cause inflammation of peripheral blood vessels- a condition known as Microangitis.

If you have any of the above symptoms, it is worthwhile getting checked for blood sugar. Typically, it involves getting your fasting as well as post-prandial sample tested, i.e. getting your sample once after a few hours of fasting, and once two hours after eating.

Some try to cheat themselves by preparing for the test. Before getting the test done, they stop eating sugar, carbohydrates, sweets, and then return to eating a lot once the test report is out and indicates results are within normal range.

If you really wish to know your correct status, get HbA1C test done which reflects the diabetic control. The other tests which are usually advised include glucose tolerance test.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Similar Story

A poor health report card for Maharashtra ahead of polls: Jan Arogya Abhiyan

Maharashtra govt scores only 23 on 100 in an analysis on health parameters by Jan Arogya Abhiyan, a group of NGOs and health care professionals.

The past five years have seen public health crises, not only locally but globally. Considering this, it is only fair to expect that budgetary allocations for public health would be made more robust. But an analysis shows that the allocation of funds for public health has dropped, though the number of people seeking medical care from the public healthcare system has increased. Experts have pointed out that the public health budget for 2024-2025 is less than that for 2023-2024. Jan Arogya Abhiyan, a group of NGOs and healthcare professionals has released a health report card assessing the performance of the…

Similar Story

Fostering and caring for sick cats: A comprehensive resource guide

Bangalore Cat Squad volunteers highlight the resources available in Bengaluru for animal rescuers, fosters and cat parents.

In part 1 of this series, our Bangalore Cat Squad (BCS) volunteer wrote about her experience caring for her first rescued kitten, Juno. In the second part, we will guide readers on how to foster cats, and the process of adoption and caring for cats with feline distemper/simian parvovirus (SPV).   Therapists often recommend animal companionship, and many people have asked for our help in this regard. Using expert insights, we have developed methods to assess, assist, and enable adoptions for those grappling with mental health issues. Witnessing lives revitalised and spirits uplifted by the profound affection of a small…