6 Ways To Know If You’re Diabetic

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported 108 million known cases of diabetes in 1980-more than 3 decades later, that number has increased to a staggering 422 million adults diagnosed worldwide in 2014.

While diabetes is now taken as little worse than a bad flu, it can lead to nerve damage, kidney damage, eyesight loss, and heart issues, among other complications. Here are some common signs that might help you detect it early-on:

1-You Always Feel Hungry and Tired:

The cells rely on glucose extracted from food with the help of insulin as an energy source. Low insulin production or rejection of produced insulin by body cells means inability of glucose to enter into the cells, sapping your energy and resulting in unregulated episodes of hunger and fatigue.

2-You Drink and Pee Too Much:

A normal person pees 4-8 times a day. However, high blood sugar in diabetics is not reabsorbed by the kidneys and passed through urine with the help of extra fluids, hence draining the body’s water supply; resulting in several trips to the bathroom and a constant need for water.

3-You Can’t See Clearly:

Fluid loss from the eye lens due to high levels of blood sugar causes the eyes to dry up, swell, possibly change shape and make it difficult to focus, resulting in blurred vision. This is the third most common symptom of diabetes. Water is also drained from other parts of the body, causing dryness-particularly in the mouth area-and itchiness.

4-Regular Mood Swings:

Excessive sugar in the bloodstream can imitate depression-like symptoms, making you believe that you have a mental disorder instead of diabetes. You might also feel lethargic with regular episodes of irritability.

5-You Lose Weight Without Even Trying:

With the sugar unavailable for utilization by the cells to gain energy-mainly due to the low insulin production-they look towards other sources such as burning muscle and stored fat for energy required to function.

6-Your Gums Hurt:

The condition of your gums can indicate a possible case of diabetes. Red, swollen gums or their recession from the teeth-which causes them to loosen-as well as recurrent gum diseases or infections might be a forewarning of onset of diabetes.

Other Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes:

While all of the above signs are common for both type 1 and 2 diabetes, you might be able to tell if its type 2-which is hard to detect in the earlier stages- by some additional symptoms:

Slow or Un-Healing SoresYeast Infections in Warm, Moist Folds of the Skin (e.g. under breasts, between fingers)Dark Skin PatchesNumb or painful legs and feetBreath that Smells like Nail Polish Remover.

You can get ahead of Diabetes and manage its severity by early detection and following the advice of an Endocrinologist (Diabetes Specialist). If you suspect a possible diagnosis, do not hesitate to Book an Appointment with a top Endocrinologist in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad through oladoc.com. Or call our helpline to find the RIGHT Doctor to care for your diabetes-related concerns.

My name is Usman and I am working with oladoc.com— Pakistan’s premier digital health company. Using oladoc, you can find a top Endocrinologist in Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad, and seek appointment online.