Are you also thirsty more often than usual these days? No matter how much you eat, your hunger doesn't subside? Or do you feel very tired all day for no reason? We often think of these things as normal and don't pay much attention to them. However, these can be important signals that our bodies give us. To be precise, these symptoms can appear when diabetes (Prediabetes) or Type 2 Diabetes begins. Therefore, it is very important for your future health to be aware of this and, if necessary, see a doctor as soon as possible and start treatment.
Be aware of these symptoms of diabetes
Simply put, the hormone insulin is essential for controlling blood glucose levels in our bodies. In diabetes, the body either produces less insulin or cannot use the insulin it produces properly. This causes the blood sugar level to rise gradually. This is when the body tries to tell us that there is a problem inside through various symptoms.
Some of these symptoms appear right away, while others appear a little later. Let's take a closer look at what these are.
| Symptom | What does this mean? |
|---|---|
| Symptoms that may appear first | |
| Frequent urination | The kidneys try to remove excess sugar in the blood through urine, so you need to urinate more often than usual. |
| Feeling more thirsty than usual | Frequent urination causes the body to lose a lot of water. This is what makes you feel thirsty all the time. |
| Weight loss for no reason | Since the body's cells can't get energy from sugar, the body starts to break down fat and muscle to get energy. That's why you lose weight even if you eat well. |
| Fatigue | Because the cells do not get the energy (sugar) they need, they feel very tired even after doing a little work. |
| Blurred vision | High blood sugar levels can affect the lens of the eye, causing temporary blurring of vision. |
| Other features | Some people may also experience headaches, difficulty breathing, stomach aches, nausea, and vomiting. |
| Symptoms that may appear over time | |
| Numbness or pain in the limbs | Having too much sugar in your blood over a long period of time can damage your nerves, causing tingling, pins and needles, or pain in your limbs. |
| Delayed wound healing | Diabetes impairs blood circulation, which is why even a small wound takes a long time to heal. |
| Frequent infections | Bacterial or fungal infections of the skin, urinary tract, or gums can occur frequently. |
But remember this too. Some people may not have any symptoms even though their blood sugar levels are high. That's why it's so important to get regular medical checkups if you have risk factors for diabetes (e.g., family history, obesity), even if you don't have symptoms.
How does a doctor diagnose diabetes?
When you mention these symptoms, your doctor may suspect diabetes. However, it is not possible to confirm 100% that you have diabetes just by looking at the symptoms. To know for sure, you will definitely need to do some blood tests .
These are the main blood tests that are done for that.
| Test Name | What do you see in this? |
|---|---|
| HbA1c test (A1c test) | This is like a 3-month report card of your blood sugar levels. It shows what your average blood sugar levels have been like over the past 2-3 months. This is a very important test to diagnose and control diabetes. |
| Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) test | In this, you must not eat or drink anything other than water for at least 8 hours before the test. Then, blood is taken and the sugar level at that time is measured. |
| Random Glucose Test | This involves taking blood at any time of the day to check your blood sugar level. You don't need to fast beforehand. Doctors use this test when they need to quickly check someone who has severe symptoms of diabetes. |
Based on the results of these blood tests, your doctor can determine whether you have diabetes, prediabetes, or gestational diabetes. If you are pregnant, they can also determine whether you have gestational diabetes.
You are responsible for your health.
Remember this. When making decisions about your health, you are the most important member of your care team. Your doctor, nurses, and others are there to help you, but you know your body and what you are feeling best.
Therefore,
- Talk openly with your doctor about your symptoms without hiding anything.
- Tell me about your mental state, your fears, and the things that are important to you.
- If you have any questions about treatment, ask.
Only then can your doctor create the best treatment plan for you. Diabetes is a condition that can be managed and controlled to live a healthy life. The first step is to correctly diagnose the disease, understand your responsibilities, and seek treatment.
Take-Home Message
- Feeling more thirsty, hungry, tired, and urinating more frequently than usual can be early signs of diabetes. Don't ignore these as normal things.
- If you have one or more of these symptoms, see your doctor immediately.
- Only blood tests like HbA1c can confirm 100% whether you have diabetes or not.
- You are the most important person on your healthcare team. Talk openly with your doctor about your feelings and be an active participant in your treatment.
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