Diabetes mellitus, or diabetes, is a disease that is, unfortunately, becoming more well-known. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The incidence of diabetes is increasing; according to the World Health Organization (WHO)<\/a>, the number of people with diabetes has risen from 108 million people in 1980 to 422 million in 2014.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Diabetes is a disease affecting the pancreas and its ability to produce the hormone insulin. When the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas are destroyed, or when the body doesn’t respond to insulin as well as it should, blood sugar (blood glucose) levels rise, and diabetes can develop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Insulin helps blood glucose (blood sugar) enter our cells, used as fuel to support all of the body’s functions. Without enough insulin, sugar remains in the bloodstream and can become dangerously high. Having high blood sugar over a prolonged period of time is detrimental to health. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Unfortunately, many people with diabetes may not even know they have it. In fact, of the 34.2 million adults with diabetes in 2018, 26.8 million were diagnosed, and 7.3 million were undiagnosed. Going along with undiagnosed diabetes can increase the risk of diabetes complications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Knowing the diabetes symptoms can help provide an earlier diagnosis, which can preserve both health and quality of life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Having chronic high blood sugar<\/a> without treatment can increase the likelihood of diabetes-related health complications, which is why it’s crucial to get a diagnosis and begin treatment if diabetes is suspected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Blood sugar is commonly measured in terms of milligrams per deciliter (mg\/dL). A blood glucose level above 200 mg\/dL at any time is considered very high. High blood sugar levels can be dangerous. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In type 1 diabetes, very high blood sugar can lead to a life-threatening condition called diabetic ketoacidosis<\/a> (DKA). <\/p>\n\n\n\n DKA occurs when insulin levels are deficient, which causes the body to start producing ketones to use as fuel instead of glucose. A sign of ketone bodies being present is fruity-smelling breath.DKA can be fatal, so prompt medical attention is required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some symptoms of DKA include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n In type 2 diabetes, very high blood sugar can cause hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome (HHS)<\/a>. HHS doesn’t cause ketones to build up, but it does present as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over time, high blood sugar does damage to the arteries and vessels of the body. When these vessels are damaged, complications can occur. Some of the complications from chronic high blood sugar include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are many symptoms of diabetes; some of them are physical, and some are diagnosed with blood tests. Typically, people with undiagnosed diabetes<\/a> present with physical symptoms, which brings them into their healthcare provider for an exam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Excessive urination (polyuria): <\/strong>Elevated blood glucose levels cause an imbalance of dissolved particles in the urine. When there is a lot of sugar in the urine, the body attempts to dilute the sugar by pulling fluid from the body. The result is increased urine volume due to less water being absorbed by the kidney and more being excreted through the bladder. People usually notice polyuria<\/a> when they wake up several times per night to urinate, especially without increasing their fluid intake. Excessive thirst (polydipsia): <\/strong>Excessive thirst is connected to increased urination. When someone is losing more fluids due to increased urination, it can be dehydrating. Dehydration stimulates thirst, which then contributes to the increased urination from increased urine volume. Because the thirst is due to high blood sugar levels<\/a> and dehydration, drinking more water may not quench thirst as it does in people without undiagnosed diabetes. These two symptoms have a cyclic effect and feed off of each other, worsening both symptoms. Unintentional weight loss: <\/strong>Cells require sugar (glucose) for energy; glucose is the preferred energy source over other sources. Cells have insulin receptors, which insulin attaches to in order to let the sugar in. An easier way to think of it is that the cells have doors, the insulin receptors are the doorknobs, and insulin is the key to open the doorknob to allow sugar in to feed the cells. Without enough insulin to provide glucose to feed the cells, the body starts burning fat and muscle for energy instead, which leads to unintentional weight loss<\/a>. Increased hunger: <\/strong>When cells are starved of glucose for energy (due to lack of insulin or insulin resistance), it can increase the sensation of hunger to try to compensate and gain enough calories to use for fuel. People with undiagnosed diabetes may notice that they are hungrier than usual and still losing weight due to uncontrolled blood sugar levels<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are three main types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease and isn’t as prevalent as type 2. Diabetes type 1 affects about 2-5% of the world’s population<\/a> and about 1 in 300 American adults before the age of 18. Type 1 usually occurs before age 18, which is why it’s also referred to as juvenile diabetes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The risk factors for type 1 diabetes aren’t as well-understood as the other types of diabetes because it’s very different from the other types. Risk factors for developing type 1 diabetes include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Type 2 diabetes is more common and isn’t an autoimmune disease. It can occur in adolescence but is more common in older adults. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Type 2 diabetes occurs when the pancreas stops producing enough insulin, or the body doesn’t respond to insulin the way it should. When the body doesn’t use insulin effectively, it’s called insulin resistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Things that can increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gestational diabetes (GDM) <\/a>occurs during pregnancy and can affect women without a previous history of diabetes. The drastic shift in hormones during pregnancy can trigger insulin resistance, resulting in higher blood sugars. It typically goes away after pregnancy but can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes later in life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Risk factors for developing GDM include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition, so it doesn’t have known prevention steps. In order to prevent type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes:<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe dangers of <\/strong><\/strong>undiagnosed<\/strong> <\/strong>diabetes<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/li>\n\n\n\nSymptoms of <\/strong><\/strong>undiagnosed<\/strong> <\/strong>diabetes<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Type 1 diabetes <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/li>\n\n\n\nGestational diabetes <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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