Early Signs of Diabetes that Can Sneak up on You 

Diabetes is a group of diseases that interfere with the way your body processes sugar from food into energy. If blood sugar (glucose) levels remain too high in the bloodstream, the sugar can destroy tissue and organs, leading to nerve damage, loss of vision, and even amputations from slow-healing wounds.

At Primecare Family Practice, board-certified family practitioners Maryline Ongangi, APRN, FNP-C and Lewis Nyantika, APRN, FNP-C, offer diabetes management to our patients who have the disease or are at risk of getting up.

As November is National Diabetes Month, here we present a number of the early signs of diabetes you should watch out for.

What are the types of diabetes?

There are four different types of diabetes, which differ in how the hormone insulin, secreted from the pancreas, interacts with glucose in the blood. Normally, insulin ferries glucose across cell membranes so the cells can use the glucose to produce energy.

1. Type 1

Type 1 diabetes, or insulin-dependent diabetes, occurs when the beta cells in the pancreas don’t produce enough – or any – insulin. Blood sugar levels remain high as a result. People with type 1 have to take insulin injections so their bodies can metabolize glucose.

2. Type 2

Type 2 is the most preventable form, as it’s often the result of a poor diet, lack of exercise, and being overweight or obese. In this form, insulin is present, but the cells become resistant to its effects, and so blood sugar levels remain high.

3. Gestational

This form occurs only in pregnant women and may be the result of hormones secreted by the placenta that interfere with insulin’s normal activities. The condition can be managed throughout pregnancy with diet, exercise, and medication, and it often resolves after delivery.

4. Prediabetes

This condition isn’t actually diabetes, but, instead, the stage right before diabetes. Blood sugar levels are elevated, but they’re not high enough to be considered diabetes. You can reverse the problem through healthy lifestyle habits.

Early signs of diabetes

Some people don’t have any symptoms in the early stages of diabetes, making it important to get regular blood tests from your primary care doctor. Caught early, the disease is more easily treatable.

When you do have symptoms, some early signs include:

• Frequent urination, often at night
• Extreme thirst
• Loss of weight
• Hunger pangs
• Blurry vision
• Numb or tingling hands or feet
• Fatigue
• Very dry skin
• Slow-healing sores, especially on the legs and feet
• More infections than normal

If you experience any of these and haven’t had a blood test for a while, it’s time to come into Primecare Family Practice to have your glucose levels tested.

Treating diabetes

With type 1 diabetes, insulin injections can help manage the symptoms and prevent damage to your body. For type 2, gestational, and prediabetes, two of the best ways of preventing progression or managing the condition are a healthy diet and sufficient exercise.

Healthy diet

Everything you eat affects your blood sugar, so it’s important to be selective and opt for healthy choices. While no foods are completely off-limits, you should focus on lots of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nonfat dairy, and lean meats, while limiting foods high in sugar and fat.

It’s important to understand that carbohydrates convert into sugar in the body, so you have to watch your carb intake. Try to keep the level about the same from one meal to the next. This becomes even more important if you depend on insulin or oral drugs to manage your condition.

Exercise

Moving your body is just as important as what you put in it. You don’t need to become a marathoner, but putting in 30 minutes of walking, bike riding, or swimming most days of the week will help reduce your sugar levels, drop the pounds, and decrease your risk for heart disease. It can also help you manage stress.

Want to learn more about diabetes and the signs to watch for? Haven’t had a blood test in a while? Call Primecare Family Practice at 817-873-3710 to schedule, or book online with us today.