Samuel Okoruwa
Most of the time, we think we will be able to spot the signs if we ever get a serious illness.
Unfortunately, this is not always the case, especially when it comes to diabetes. 1 out of every 3 adults are diabetic in the United States. That’s about 86 million people! In Nigeria, the number of diabetic people keeps rising and there are still a large number of people who do not know they are prediabetic.
So, what is prediabetes? It is when your blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not in a range that is considered diabetes. This is essentially the stage before diabetes. The good news is blood sugar levels can be brought back to normal if diagnosed early enough. But how do you know if you’re prediabetic? The signs can be subtle!
Check out this list of warning signs that you are prediabetic.
You Frequently Urinate
This is one of the telltale signs of prediabetes and one that some people may hardly notice at first. This happens because your glucose levels increase when you’re prediabetic. As a result, your kidneys start working harder than usual, causing you to urinate more frequently. This could mean using the bathroom more than eight times in a day! If you notice that you are urinating more than usual, then it may be time to consult your doctor.
You’re Always Thirsty
An increase in blood sugar levels causes your body to drain more fluids than usual (e.g. urinating frequently). Due to this loss of fluids, you will feel dehydrated and may experience polydipsia, a fancy word that means excessive thirst. This will make you to start craving for water or just about any liquid that can quench your thirst.
Vision Problems
If you’re having trouble seeing, then this may be a clear sign that your blood sugar levels are high. Increase in blood sugar levels affects several parts of the body, and this includes blood vessels located in the eyes. This can affect your eyes in two ways. First, fluids will move in and of the eye, causing the eyeballs to swell. This can easily be resolved if you lower your blood sugar. Second, the damaged blood vessels could affect the retina, causing you to experience blurry vision.
Your Wounds Take Time To Heal
Prediabetes can also affect the blood vessels. If you notice small cuts on the body that would ordinarily take a few days to heal are taking weeks or months to heal, then that’s clearly a bad sign. When these wounds stay for so long without healing, they become vulnerable to bacteria and can get infected.
Dark Patches On The Skin
This is another sign that something is not right. The patches usually appear around the armpit, groin and the back of the neck. While these dark patches may be a sign of cancer or hormonal disorders, they can also indicate insulin resistance, which can lead to Type 2 Diabetes.
Do you have any of these symptoms? Go see your doctor immediately. Thanks 😊
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