Diabetes is a serious health condition that affects millions, and many people don’t even know they have it. This video breaks down some of the common signs you might be able to spot yourself, helping you take charge of your health early on. Catching diabetes early can prevent a lot of long-term problems.
So, what exactly is diabetes? Simply put, it’s a condition where your body struggles to manage blood sugar. Normally, a hormone called insulin helps move sugar from your blood into your cells for energy. But with diabetes, either your body doesn’t make enough insulin (Type 1) or your cells stop responding to it properly (Type 2). In either case, sugar builds up in your blood, which can damage your blood vessels, nerves, and organs over time. We’ll focus mostly on Type 2, as it’s more common. (This article draws upon the expertise of Dr. Siobhan Deshauer)
Frequent Urination and Increased Thirst
One of the most common signs is needing to pee a lot, especially at night. This is called polyuria. Your kidneys work hard to filter extra sugar from your blood, but when they get overloaded, the sugar spills into your urine, taking water with it. This makes you need to go more often and can also lead to dehydration and feeling extra thirsty. Drinking sugary drinks like juice or soda just makes this cycle worse.
Skin Changes: What to Look For
Your skin can show some tell-tale signs of diabetes. Keep an eye out for these:
- Acanthosis Nigricans: These are dark, velvety patches, often found on the back of your neck, in your armpits, or groin. They usually mean your body is resistant to insulin. When insulin levels rise, they can cause skin cells to grow more, leading to this thickening and darkening, especially in areas where skin rubs together.
- Skin Tags: Similar to acanthosis nigricans, these small skin flaps can appear in areas of friction like the neck or armpits. While often harmless, having many of them can also be a sign of insulin resistance.
- Infections: High blood sugar levels create a perfect breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. It also weakens your immune system, making you more prone to infections. This can show up as skin abscesses or yeast infections. Plus, that excess sugar in your urine can lead to more urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Issues with Tendons and Joints
High blood glucose can actually coat your tendons with sugar, a process called glycosylation. This makes them thicker and less flexible.
Diabetic Stiff Hand Syndrome
Ever tried to put your palms together and found your fingers can’t straighten fully or your palms don’t touch? This is called a positive prayer sign and can be a sign of diabetic stiff hand syndrome. The sugar coating on your tendons makes them stiff and limits movement. It can sometimes be mistaken for arthritis.
Trigger Finger
This happens when a tendon in your finger gets inflamed, causing the finger to get stuck in a bent position and then snap straight. Glycosylation can prevent the tendon from gliding smoothly. A doctor might feel a lump where the tendon is getting caught.
Frozen Shoulder
Similar to what happens in the hands, the tissues in the shoulder can also be affected by glycosylation, leading to adhesive capsulitis, or frozen shoulder. This can cause significant pain and stiffness that can last for years.
Nerve Damage (Neuropathy)
High sugar levels are toxic to nerves and the small blood vessels that supply them. This nerve damage, called neuropathy, can cause numbness, tingling, or pain, often starting in the hands and feet.
Charcot Foot
When you have neuropathy in your feet, you might not feel injuries. This can change how you walk, putting extra stress on your feet. Tiny fractures (microtraumas) might occur, but you won’t feel them. Because your feet also have less blood flow and heal slower with diabetes, these fractures don’t heal. Over time, this leads to dramatic changes in the foot’s structure, like Charcot foot, where the arch collapses and the foot develops a rocker-bottom shape. It’s surprising how quickly this can happen, and many people with it don’t feel pain, highlighting the severity of the nerve damage.
Diabetic Foot Infections and Amputation Risk
Diabetes is the leading cause of non-traumatic amputations. Because people with neuropathy can injure their feet without noticing, and high blood sugar weakens the immune system and blood flow, infections can easily start and spread. A small cut or even a staple can go unnoticed, leading to a severe infection that might require amputation if not treated quickly. It’s vital for anyone with diabetes to check their feet daily for any cuts, blisters, or nail problems.
Digestive Issues (Gastroparesis)
Diabetes can also slow down digestion. Gastroparesis occurs when damage to the nerves in your stomach causes it to empty more slowly. This can lead to bloating, nausea, and vomiting, and make blood sugar levels unpredictable due to delayed carbohydrate absorption.
Diagnosing Diabetes: The Hemoglobin A1C Test
Forget tasting urine! The best way to diagnose diabetes today is the Hemoglobin A1C test. This test measures your average blood sugar level over the past 2-3 months. It works because sugar attaches to hemoglobin in your red blood cells over time. The more sugar, the more attachment. This gives a clearer picture than a single blood glucose reading, which can change a lot throughout the day.
- A Hemoglobin A1C of 6.5% or higher indicates diabetes.
Who Should Get Tested?
Anyone experiencing the symptoms mentioned should get tested. Generally, it’s recommended that everyone have their A1C checked at least every three years starting at age 35. If you have risk factors, you might need to start earlier or test more often.
Preventing and Managing Diabetes
While this could be a whole separate topic, here are the key points for prevention:
- Diet: Focus on high-fiber foods, complex carbohydrates, less sugar, and fewer processed items.
- Exercise: Include both cardio and strength training.
- Weight Management: Maintaining a healthy weight is important.
- Quit Smoking: Smoking increases diabetes risk.
Diabetes is manageable, and prevention is ideal. If you’ve noticed any of these signs or are over 35 and haven’t been tested, talk to your doctor. Staying informed about your body is key to staying healthy.
Source: Dr. Siobhan Deshauer