In one of the previous write-up, we talked about several symptoms and warning signs of developing diabetes. It is possible to have diabetes with only very mild symptoms or without developing any symptoms at all. Having some of the signs of diabetes doesn’t mean you definitely have the condition. Such cases can leave some people with diabetes unaware of the condition and undiagnosed.
Read full text on the signs and the symptoms of diabetes here. They may include;
- Frequent Urination
- Frequent Thirst
- Excess Hunger
- Unexplained weight loss
- Blurred Vision
- Increased fatigue
- Slow healing of wounds
- Numbness
- Irritability
If you’re experiencing symptoms of diabetes mentioned above, you should make an appointment with your doctor. Your doctor to make the diagnosis and further lab tests to be done.
Who to be screened?
American Diabetes association recommends that the following person to be screened for diabetes;
- Additional risk-factors like high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels, high triglycerides, a sedentary lifestyle, history of heart diseases, etc.
- The history of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or gestational diabetes history in women.
- If you are aging more than 45 years. They must do diabetes screening tests every three years thereafter.
- If you have a family history of diabetes. You must be screened regularly.
- A pre-diabetic: Anyone who has been diagnosed with abnormal blood sugar levels or signs of diabetes. You must be screened regularly.
- If you are doing the exercise once in blue moon i.e. physical inactiveness.
- If you belong to the regions like African-American, Latino, Native American, Pacific Islander, Asian-American, among others. These regions are high-risk ethnicity groups. Type 1 diabetes is more common in these.
The age, family history, history of gestational diabetes and race or ethnicity are the non-modifiable risk factors to diabetes. You can not change or avoid these factors. Moreover, factors like a sedentary lifestyle, Body weight, Cholesterol levels, and blood pressure are controllable and can be a preventive one. These are called modifiable factors.
How to control some risk factors for Diabetes
Symptoms of type 1 diabetes often appear suddenly and are often the reason for checking blood sugar levels. For type 2 diabetes and Gestational diabetes, the risk factors may increase with age. Hence, the testing can help you identify the chances of developing diabetes.
Blood testing allows a doctor to determine the levels of blood sugar in the body. Along with medication, the doctor recommends possible lifestyle changes as a preventive measure.
For your reference
BMI is used as weight standard according to your height. It can be calculated as weight (kg)/height (m2). The relative risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus increases as BMI increases above 23, study says. And it has been said that, obesity in childhood or young age may be the risk factor of early onset of Type 2 diabetes. Obesity is associated with Diabetes. Both are on the rise worldwide. Weight loss has been shown to improve glycemic control and cardiovascular risk factors in obese individuals with type 2 diabetes.
