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Don’t ignore signs of diabetes

by KATHY HUBBARD Contributing Writer
| November 3, 2021 1:00 AM

A well-educated man in his 60s recently told me that he’s never been to a doctor, nor has he ever had any recommended screenings. Often people who think like him are also content to ignore symptoms when they arise. Today we’ll look at what happens if you disregard symptoms of diabetes.

Verywellhealth.com says that “untreated diabetes can potentially cause severe complications that involve almost all parts of your body, including your heart, kidneys, blood vessels, eyes, nerves, gastrointestinal tract, gums, and teeth. In severe cases, it could lead to death.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that twenty-five percent of the population with diabetes is not aware they have the disease. “Diabetes occurs when your blood sugar, also called blood glucose, is too high (aka hyperglycemia). Blood glucose is your main source of energy and comes from the food you eat,” Verywell says.

If you’ve never seen a healthcare professional, you don’t know whether your blood glucose level is high, low, or normal. But what you would know is if you were experiencing more frequent infections or taking longer to recover from a wound.

Medical News Today says that people with diabetes have a higher risk of “skin infections, such as cellulitis or ulcers, especially on the feet; urinary tract infections, including cystitis; mouth and gastrointestinal infections; respiratory tract infections, such as tuberculosis and flu; ear infections and yeast infections.” In addition, you might develop a darkening of the skin. Soft, velvety patches may form in the groin, armpits, or neck and not go away.

“Infections that occur with diabetes take longer to heal and can worsen more quickly than in other people. Without prompt treatment, sepsis, a life-threatening complication, can develop,” MNT says.

You’ve probably heard that a common sign of type 1 and type 2 diabetes is frequent urination, but what constitutes frequent? Answer: more than seven times in 24 hours if you’ve consumed roughly two liters of fluid during that day.

“Although there is often a simple explanation for an individual’s urinary frequency, it can sometimes indicate a more serious condition. Early identification of the problem can lead to timely treatment, preventing possible complications,” MNT explains.

Common in people with type 1 and also occurring in type 2 is extreme thirst called polydipsia. That person, even while drinking more fluids, can experience dehydration. MNT says that “dehydration can contribute to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a life-threatening emergency that can arise when the body cannot access glucose for energy, and it starts to break down fat instead.

Symptoms of DKA include dizziness, nausea and vomiting, confusion, abdominal pain, fruity-smelling breath, and a loss of consciousness and possibly a diabetic coma.”

As is often the case, we often associate diabetes with people who are overweight. But, if you have a big appetite, are always hungry but don’t gain weight, you might not be getting all the energy you need from the food you eat. This happens because the body either doesn’t produce insulin or cannot use it efficiently.

This inability to absorb glucose can also lead to weight loss. However, it can also lead to extreme fatigue. In addition, excess sugar in the bloodstream may damage sensitive vessels in the eyes, causing blurry vision.

Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to chronic kidney disease or urinary tract infections. Although kidney disease produces few or no symptoms initially, there may already be kidney damage by the time symptoms show up.

And, regarding a lack of symptoms, high glucose levels can cause high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, obesity, and put you at risk for heart disease.

“Of all the complications of diabetes, cardiovascular disease is the one that is most likely to be fatal,” MNT says. Verywell says that diabetes may decrease cognitive skills. “Type 2 diabetes is linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease.”

Long-term high blood sugar levels can cause nerve damage. Damage can occur anywhere but most often affects the hands and feet. Tingling or numbness may be an indication of diabetic neuropathy. Redness, swelling, or warmth in the legs is a medical emergency.

If you have any of the symptoms described in this article, you may have diabetes. You should see a healthcare professional right away. Bragging you’ve never seen a doctor doesn’t improve your quality of life – or extend it.

Kathy Hubbard is a member of the Bonner General Health Foundation Advisory Council. She can be reached at kathyleehubbard@yahoo.com.