Diabetes is a health condition that affects how the body uses blood sugar. The main cause of diabetes depends on the type, but no matter what type of diabetes you may have, it can cause excess sugar in the blood which can lead to serious health issues. In order to prevent complications from diabetes, it’s important to act early so you can stay on top of the condition. Keep reading to find out the early signs of diabetes so you can know if you need to take action for your health.
What Is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects your body’s ability to turn food into energy. When food is digested, it is broken down into sugars and released into the bloodstream. This signals the pancreas to release insulin. Type 1 diabetes occurs when your body doesn’t create enough insulin. Type 2 diabetes occurs when your body doesn’t respond to insulin properly. Both types of diabetes can cause an excess of sugar in your blood, which can lead to various health problems such as organ damage.
The Early Signs of Diabetes
The early signs of diabetes can be easy to ignore. That’s why it’s important to know what to look for. Some of the most common early signs include dry mouth, excessive thirst, and frequent urination. If you are constantly thirsty and feel the need to urinate frequently, your body may be letting you know that it is not producing enough insulin. The kidneys produce more urine to remove excess sugar from the body, which can increase the need to urinate more often.
Another one of the early signs of diabetes is dry skin. Diabetes can make it difficult for your body to balance its skin moisture, so you may notice that your skin, especially on your feet, is dried out. Slow-healing wounds can also indicate diabetes. High blood sugar can affect your body’s ability to heal wounds, and nerve damage caused by diabetes can make it harder to feel when you have a wound. Other early signs to watch out for include blurry vision or eye difficulties, sudden weight loss, hunger, and fatigue.
Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms
There are some symptoms that are specific to type 2 diabetes. These tend to occur after your blood sugar has been high for a long time. If you have type 2 diabetes, you may notice that you are getting yeast infections, which can occur in any warm, moist folds of skin. This condition can also cause nerve damage, so you may notice pain or numbness in your legs or feet if you have untreated type 2 diabetes.
Type 1 Diabetes Symptoms
Type 1 diabetes can start at any age, but it often starts during childhood or teen years. This type of diabetes has its own unique warning signs. If you have type 1 diabetes, you may experience nausea and vomiting. This is due to the buildup of ketones in your blood, which can make you feel sick to your stomach. Unplanned weight loss can occur if your body isn’t getting enough energy from your food and starts to burn muscle and fat instead. You may notice weight loss without making changes to how you eat.
Diabetes Risk Factors
Certain factors can put you at a higher risk of developing diabetes. People who belong to certain ethnicities, including Hispanic/Latino, Asian, American Indian/Alaska Native, and non-Hispanic Black, are at a higher risk of diabetes. Other diabetes risk factors include:
- High blood pressure
- Aging
- Being overweight
- Having gestational diabetes
- Family history of diabetes
If you are at a higher risk, it’s important to keep an eye out for the early signs of diabetes so you can start treatment early. If you think you may have diabetes, you should see a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
Metabolic Berberine for Diabetes
Are you experiencing the early signs of diabetes? Research suggests that taking Metabolic Berberine may help lower blood sugar levels by increasing insulin sensitivity, promoting insulin production, increasing glycolysis, and regulating metabolism. Taking these supplements along with diabetes medications may support their blood-sugar-lowering effects for an effective treatment.
If you have any questions about managing diabetes, please reach out to us at Lakeland Drug Company. Our pharmacy team has received extensive training to specialize in supporting patients with type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Let us help you manage your diabetes with specialized monitoring, medications, and recommendations so you can maintain a healthy lifestyle.
