Could You Have Undiagnosed Diabetes?
Medically reviewed and edited by Summary
- 37 million Americans have diabetes, with about 1 in 5 people living with undiagnosed diabetes.
- There are three types of diabetes, namely type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Type 2 is the most common type and is more prevalent in middle-aged and older adults.
- Undiagnosed diabetes can cause serious medical complications, such as retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy.
- Preventing diabetes is not necessarily done through medication, but rather through lifestyle changes. Ways to prevent diabetes include increasing exercise, increasing your fruit and vegetable intake, quitting smoking, and losing weight healthily.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 37 million Americans are living with diabetes. Approximately 1 in 10 have diabetes, with about 1 in 5 people not knowing that they have it. Diabetes is a serious condition that, if left untreated can result in serious complications.
This article will explore undiagnosed diabetes, the causes and symptoms, how to treat it, and what can happen if it goes untreated.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a collection of disorders that damage your body's ability to use blood sugar (glucose). Because glucose is a significant source of energy for the cells that make up your muscles and tissues, it is essential to your health. Glucose is also the primary source of energy for your brain.
The underlying cause of diabetes is different for each type. However, regardless of the type of diabetes you have, the disease can cause an excess of sugar in your blood. Blood sugar levels that are too high can cause major health concerns.
The most common types of diabetes are:
Type 1 Diabetes
Your body does not produce insulin if you have type 1 diabetes. Your immune system targets and destroys the insulin-producing cells in your pancreas.
Type 1 diabetes is most commonly diagnosed in children and young adults, but it can affect anyone at any age. To stay alive, people with type 1 diabetes must take insulin every day.
Key Point: What is Insulin?
Key Point: What is Insulin?
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas, which is a gland beneath your stomach. Insulin enables your body to utilize glucose as a source of energy. Glucose is a sugar that can be found in a variety of carbohydrates.
Insulin also aids in the regulation of blood glucose levels. When your blood glucose level is too high, insulin signals your body to store the excess glucose in your liver.
The glucose that's been stored in your body isn't released until your blood glucose levels drop. When your body is stressed or requires extra energy, your blood glucose levels may drop between meals.
Type 2 Diabetes
Your body does not generate or manage insulin well if you have type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes can develop at any age, including childhood.
This type of diabetes is the most prevalent kind and is more common in middle-aged and older adults.
Gestational Diabetes
During pregnancy, some women develop gestational diabetes. This type of diabetes usually goes away once the baby is born.
However, if you've experienced gestational diabetes you're more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life. It's possible that diabetes diagnosed during pregnancy is actually type 2.
Diabetes puts you at risk for a variety of illnesses , including:
Stroke
Heart disease
Hypertension (or high blood pressure)
Negative impact on organs, eyes and teeth (due to uncontrolled glucose levels)
Kidney disease or failure
Neuropathy (or nerve damage)
The Dangers of Undiagnosed Diabetes
The sooner you get a diabetes diagnosis, the more likely you are to avoid the complications that can come from having high blood sugar for a long period of time.
These complications include:
Retinopathy: If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, you may develop diabetic retinopathy, which is an eye ailment. Retinopathy is caused by damage to the retina, which is a crucial portion of the eye for vision.Even if you have just minor visual problems at first, some people with diabetes will gradually lose their vision. The good news is that vision loss caused by diabetic retinopathy can often be avoided.
Key Point: What is a Retina?
The tissue that lines the back of your eye is called the retina. The retina sends signals to the brain that allow you to see.
Nephropathy: Diabetic nephropathy is a kind of kidney disease that develops over time in patients with diabetes. It affects people with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
The risk of nephropathy increases as the disease progresses and other risk factors — such as high blood pressure and a family history of kidney disease — are present.
Neuropathy: Diabetic neuropathy is a dangerous and common complication of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. It's a form of nerve injury caused by high blood sugar levels for an extended period of time. The illness normally takes a long time to develop, possibly several decades.
You should consult your doctor if you have diabetes and experience numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness in your hands or feet. These are some of the first signs of peripheral neuropathy. When you can't feel pain and an ulcer forms on your foot, you're at risk.
You may be prone to injuries or infections if you have severe or long-term peripheral neuropathy. Amputation may be required in severe cases due to poor wound healing or infection.
Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes
Type 1 and type 2 diabetes share common symptoms. A person with undiagnosed diabetes would generally display several of these symptoms at the same time.
However, if you’re concerned, ask your doctor to test your blood sugar, HbA1c, and your urine for ketones.
Key Point: What are HbA1c and Ketones?
HbA1c: The hemoglobin A1c test determines your average blood sugar level over the past two to three months. This test is sometimes called the glycated hemoglobin test or the glycohemoglobin test.
Ketones: They affect everyone, whether you have diabetes or not. Ketones are a type of chemical produced by your liver.
When your body doesn't have enough of the hormone insulin to convert sugar (or "glucose") into energy, you make them. You require another source of energy, so your body turns to fat.
A ketone test can warn you of a serious diabetes complication called diabetic ketoacidosis, or DKA, which is a medical emergency.
Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can exhibit these symptoms:
Severe thirst
Frequent urination
Severe fatigue
Irritability
Increased appetite
Blurry vision
Yeast infections
Sour or foul-smelling breath and rapid weight loss are common with type 1 diabetes.
Other common symptoms of diabetes are:
Slow-healing cuts, bruises, or blisters
Tingling in hands, legs, or toes
Noticeably sleepy after meals
Diabetes and flu symptoms may overlap, especially in children with untreated type 1 diabetes. If you observe any combination of the symptoms above, ask your doctor to test your (or your child's) blood sugar and urine.
Key Point: Risk Factors for Diabetes
You may be at an increased risk for diabetes if you:
- Have prediabetes
- Are overweight
- Are 45 or older
- Engage in little physical activity
- Are related to someone with Type 2 diabetes
- Have had gestational diabetes
- Have polycystic ovary syndrome
- Have high blood pressure, low HDL (“good”) cholesterol, or high triglyceride levels
How Can I Help Prevent Diabetes?
If you haven't been diagnosed with diabetes, there usually won’t be clear signs that you have it until the disease has developed to an advanced stage. However, there are a few things you can do to reduce your risk of developing it.
Your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes that can lower your risk, including:
Losing weight
Eating a healthy diet that’s lower in unhealthy fats and sugar, and that includes more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
Quitting smoking
Getting at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per day
Depending on your current blood sugar levels, your doctor may also recommend medication to lower your blood sugar.
Where Can I Learn More About Diabetes?
If you have questions about diabetes, make a telehealth appointment at LifeMD and speak to a board-certified doctor or nurse practitioner from your computer or smartphone.
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