Diabetes is a disease that has been growing at an alarming rate every year. In 2018, research indicates that at least 16 million Brazilians have diabetes, and many of them aren’t even aware of the disease or the risks they face. The World Health Organization (WHO) already treats the situation as alarming, where almost 1 in every 11 adults is suffering from the disease. But since it’s a disease that often causes “normal” symptoms anyone might experience, it’s considered a silent enemy, which can make discovery even more difficult, especially with Type 2 diabetes which is the most common. So, after all, how do you know if you have diabetes?

What is Diabetes?

Before talking about the main symptoms and how to know if you have diabetes, we need to understand what this disease is and what it does in our bodies. Diabetes is characterized by high blood glucose levels, also known in medicine as hyperglycemia. This can occur due to problems with insulin production, which is the hormone made by the pancreas, or simply because the body is not responding to this production and isn’t using the insulin as it should. That’s why diabetes is divided into types: Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes.

Main Symptoms of Diabetes

Diabetes symptoms aren’t always visible, or when they are, they can easily be confused with other issues, which ends up not being as alarming as it should be. That’s why we’ll list the main symptoms of diabetes, which you should watch for if you have a combination of them or a noticeable increase in one of them.

  • Thirst – Diabetic people usually feel excessive thirst. This occurs due to increased glucose in the blood, which causes the person to urinate more frequently and dehydrate more quickly, leading to thirst.
  • Frequent Urination – Diabetics tend to urinate more often, even at night. With high blood sugar, the kidneys start filtering and eliminating the sugar through urine, causing the diabetic to urinate more often.
  • Excessive Tiredness – This is one of the symptoms most easily confused, since busy routines leave most people exhausted. But excessive tiredness in diabetics happens because the body starts to use blood sugar as an energy source, causing increased fatigue, or also when glucose drops too low, causing the sensation of tiredness.
  • Increased Appetite – Diabetics experience increased appetite because they lose calories (sugar) through urine and hunger helps recover these calories.
  • Weight Loss – Even with increased appetite, diabetics tend to lose weight, since they lose many calories in urine.
  • Blurred Vision – Diabetics may experience blurred or unfocused vision. This occurs because high blood sugar affects the back of the eye.

Age and Risk Groups for Diabetes

Because diabetes is divided into two types, type 1 and type 2, the risk groups are also different. For type 1 diabetes, the risk group is largely genetic, where family history matters a lot. So, if family members have the disease, stay alert to signs and get regular check-ups. This type often affects children and adolescents, but adults can also develop it. For type 2 diabetes, the most common type, the risk factors are broader. It can be caused by genetic factors as well as poor lifestyle habits. Below are the main risk factors, so pay attention and have regular check-ups.

  • Has high blood pressure;
  • High cholesterol;
  • Altered triglyceride levels in the blood;
  • Is overweight and has a “belly.” This is the main type of fat that can cause diabetes;
  • Family history of diabetes;
  • Has polycystic ovary syndrome;
  • Is undergoing treatment for psychiatric disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia;
  • Had gestational diabetes;

If you belong to a risk group, stay alert to the signs and talk to your doctor about having regular tests. The best way to live a healthy life even with diabetes is to discover it early so you can control your blood sugar levels.

Tests for Diagnosing Diabetes

The tests ordered for evaluation and diagnosis of diabetes are basically done by analyzing blood in a laboratory, measuring blood glucose levels. The reference values considered normal are 70 to 99 mg/dl, and for suspected diabetes, levels above 125 mg/dl. It’s important to note that results between 100 and 125 mg/dl are considered above normal but do not confirm a diabetes diagnosis.

Fasting Glucose Test

The fasting glucose test is the standard blood test, requested for almost all lab work. It should be done after fasting for at least 8 hours, which makes it possible to assess blood glucose levels. Reference values are:

  • Normal Levels: less than 100mg/dl
  • Pre-diabetic: between 110 and 126mg/dl
  • Diabetic: more than 126 mg/dl

Normally this is the first test to indicate if the patient has any issues. Based on the results, it may be recommended to investigate further or rule out the possibility of diabetes.

Glycated Hemoglobin

The glycated hemoglobin test, known in the lab as HbA1c, can detect blood glucose levels over the previous 3 months through a small blood sample. The criteria for confirmation of diabetes with this test are:

  • High risk of diabetes or pre-diabetic – levels between 5.7 and 6.4%
  • Diabetes diagnosis – levels above 6.5%

When results above 6.5% indicate diabetes, a new sample is usually requested for confirmation, unless the patient already has clear diabetes symptoms or glucose is above 200 mg%.

Glucose Tolerance Test

In the glucose tolerance test, the patient is given a very sweet-tasting liquid to assess how the glucose reacts in the bloodstream. After 2 hours, blood is drawn for measurement. The reference values are:

  • Normal Levels: less than 140 mg/dl;
  • Pre-diabetic: between 141 and 199 mg/dl;
  • Diabetic: more than 200 mg/dl

All of the tests described above are recommended for patients who show any symptoms of diabetes. These tests may also be requested for pregnant women, aiming to prevent complications related to high blood sugar during pregnancy, resulting in gestational diabetes.

Main Complications of Uncontrolled Diabetes

When diabetes is detected in time and controlled with treatment prescribed by doctors, it can be managed well and the patient can live a healthy life without scares. But when uncontrolled, it can cause serious health complications and even threaten the patient’s life.

Kidney Disease

The kidneys work as a sort of body filter and are composed of millions of tiny blood vessels that remove waste found in the blood. With increased blood glucose, these wastes increase, making the kidneys filter even more blood, overburdening their function and eventually impairing their proper operation.

Foot Problems

Problems with feet and legs, especially pain and swelling, may seem common and routine, but not for diabetics. Nerve problems and poor circulation in diabetics may lead to complications such as severe pain, constant tingling, a burning sensation like many needle pricks, and even loss of feeling in the limb. That’s why it’s very common to hear that diabetics have had limbs amputated, because with uncontrolled disease, the blood flow to the feet is reduced. Lack of sensation or difficulty healing when the area is injured opens the door for infections and bacteria.

Eye Problems

People with diabetes are at risk of serious eye problems, including blindness. These risks increase when diabetes is not properly controlled and is left unchecked. The eyes are supplied by blood vessels that are affected by complications from diabetes, since they’re exposed to high blood glucose.

Fertility Problems

Diabetes can cause serious fertility damage in both men and women if not properly treated, since it leads to vascular and psychological complications. In men, uncontrolled glucose increases production of free radicals, which can fragment the DNA of sperm, making them weaker or unable to reach the egg. In severe cases, diabetes can even affect the erection, making sexual intercourse impossible. In women, changes in glucose levels can completely disrupt the menstrual cycle, preventing ovulation. In some cases, diabetic women may stop menstruating altogether. Another diabetes-related risk is increased chance of miscarriage or poor embryonic development. The best way to prevent all these complications is through proper diabetes treatment. If you’re trying to get pregnant, in addition to specific treatment to control blood glucose, take fertility vitamins, which not only meet vitamin needs but also boost fertility. For women, we recommend FamiFerti vitamin, which strengthens the uterus and endometrium and stimulates ovulation. You can buy it here in our online store. For men, the ViriFerti fertility vitamin can be used, which also meets vitamin needs and boosts semen quality, strengthening sperm and DNA. Buy it here in our online store. Taking the opportunity, I’d like to share some news for our readers. In partnership with Famivita, we developed a line of specialized health and fertility products, including fertility vitamins for both men and women, ovulation tests, and fertility-friendly lubricant gel FamiGel, which works like cervical mucus, enhancing sperm mobility and increasing pleasure. You can find each of these products here in our online store. Photo: JooJoo41