Do You Need to Master the Risky Diabetes Symptoms?
Do You Need to Master the Risky Diabetes Symptoms
Everyone should be aware of diabetes symptoms because of the rising prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes cases worldwide. As a result, people will be able to live healthier, diabetes-free lives. A globally agreed target is to stop the rise in diabetes prevalence by 2025.
The World Health Organization estimates that 422 million people worldwide have diabetes (2022) and that diabetes causes 1.5 million deaths annually. Over the last few decades, its prevalence has been rising steadily.
Diabetes is a lifelong metabolic disease that elevates blood sugar due to either insufficient insulin or cells cannot effectively use insulin. Over time, it leads to serious damage to the eyes, heart, kidneys, blood vessels, and nerves.
A high blood sugar level leads to diabetes symptoms. Diabetes can occur in two different types that share most of the symptoms. However, symptoms are presented differently.
Type 2, which develops when cells resist insulin or insufficient insulin is released, is the most prevalent. This type is typically more common in adults. Type 1 diabetes emerges when the pancreas secretes little to no insulin.
Common Symptoms
Both types of diabetes have some common symptoms like the following:
- Tiredness
- Blurred vision
- Increased thirst
- Increased hunger
- Increased urination
- Sores due to recurring infections that are slow to heal
Symptoms of body organs
Diabetes has an impact on multiple body organs as follows:
- Skin: healing of wounds is much harder and the risk of infection is higher
- Eyes: blurry vision might lead to vision loss
- Urinary Bladder: urinary tract infection and frequent urination
- Feet: Blood flow to the feet is reduced
- Arms and legs: pain and numbness
Differences in diabetes symptoms
Since type 1 symptoms develop so rapidly, they are generally noticeable as a dramatic weight loss in just a few weeks or stomach pain and/or vomiting. On the other hand, type 2 symptoms develop over a long time, causing many people to not realize it.
Symptoms and gender
Diabetes might cause some sexual problems related to low testosterone levels for men as erectile dysfunction, retrograde ejaculation, and sexual dysfunction. Comparatively, women might suffer from yeast and urinary tract infections.
Symptoms in different age groups
Diabetes in infants and children is most likely to be type 1, but children can develop type 2 as well. Most symptoms are the same in infants, children, and adults. Preferably, parents or caregivers should notice symptoms as:
- Lack of appetite
- Weight loss
- Tiredness or weakness
- Diaper changes are becoming more important
- Bedwetting
- Always appears to be thirsty
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Changes in mood
- Diaper rashes that do not heal
- A fruity smell in the breath
- Fast breathing
Tiredness, blurred vision, increased urination, thirst, hunger, recurring infections, and slow healing sores are common diabetes symptoms regardless of gender, age, and diabetes type.
However, type 1 symptoms develop so rapidly, but type 2 symptoms need more time to develop. Additionally, both genders have more specified symptoms. If you're worried about your symptoms, check your risk by answering a few questions at this link: Diabetes risk calculator for type 2 diabetes.
References
Healthline: Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms.
Genesis Medical Associates: The importance of Understanding and Preventing Diabetes.
