One in ten Americans lives with diabetes, a condition that causes their blood sugar levels to get too high. But of those 34 million people who have it, more than seven million have yet to be diagnosed.
That’s because diabetes — especially Type 2 diabetes, the most common type — can come with symptoms that are so mild that many people don’t notice them. In fact, people often have diabetes and don’t know it until the condition advances far enough to cause serious symptoms.
That’s why, during National Diabetes Awareness Month, we want to take a look at some of the early warning signs of diabetes. If you notice any of them, don’t wait to visit Dr. Peymon Zarreii at Zarreii Medical and Aesthetics in Delray Beach, Florida. He offers diabetes diagnosis and treatment to balance your blood sugar levels and protect your long-term health.
Living with diabetes and not knowing it
Type 1 diabetes causes symptoms that people usually catch right away. With this type of diabetes, your body doesn’t produce enough insulin. This is the hormone that allows your body to turn sugar in your blood into fuel for your cells.
Without insulin, the sugar in your blood builds up fast, causing severe symptoms. People with Type 1 diabetes know they have it quickly because the symptoms are so serious right away.
But in its early phases, Type 2 diabetes is easy to miss. With this type of diabetes, your body resists insulin’s action of converting blood sugar. This means your blood sugar levels usually creep up slowly over time, causing slow-onset symptoms that are easy to ignore in the beginning.
Regardless, it’s important to be aware of the warning signs. Your body relies on a normal blood sugar level balance. If you let your blood sugar get too high and stay there for too long, you’ll be left dealing with serious health complications. That could be anything from vision loss to ulcers on your feet.
The early warning signs of diabetes
Keep an eye out for these early symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Excess hunger and/or thirst
- Urinating more frequently than normal
- Dry, itchy skin
- Blurry vision
- Dry mouth
- Slow-healing cuts and sores
- Numbness or pain in your feet
- Yeast infections
If you notice any of the red flags we just outlined, make an appointment with Dr. Zarreii right away. Contact our team at Zarreii Medical and Aesthetics to schedule your visit by either calling us or booking online. Dr. Zarreii can help you quickly determine if you have diabetes and, if so, start your treatment as soon as possible.