Diabetes type 2: The subtle signs of high blood sugar you ‘may not notice’ – expert
Type 2 diabetes can be a 'devastating diagnosis' says expert
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Up to 60,000 cases of type 2 diabetes in the UK were missed after lockdown began in March 2020. But experts are becoming increasingly concerned about the rise in hidden diabetes, which means a person’s blood sugar level is higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. However, detecting the condition in its early stages can prevent it from developing with serious complications.
Symptoms of type 2 diabetes often occur slowly, and are easily confused with other conditions.
Normal blood sugar levels range between 3.5mmol/L and 6.9mmol/L, and the diagnosis point is generally 7mmol/L.
Certain symptoms of diabetes, such as needing to go to the toilet more often, usually occur when the blood sugar levels are above 11mmol/L.
Dan Howarth, head of care at Diabetes UK, explained the delay in diagnosis could be due to how difficult it is to identify the symptoms of Type 2 diabetes.
READ MORE: Diabetes type 2: Five warning signs in the morning your blood sugar levels are too high
Chris Askew, Chief executive at Diabetes UK, said: “Missed appointments and missed or delayed diagnoses can devastate lives.
Howarth added: “People often don’t notice the symptoms and put them down to something else, such as their stress levels of their age.”
A study undertaken by the University of Exeter in April 2021, revealed that those with type 2 diabetes wait an average of 2.3 years, and sometimes more than five years before getting diagnosed.
The findings of the study also showed that men are at higher risk of the condition, while women are more likely to experience delay to their diagnosis.
Howarth noted: “There is some speculation here, but it could be because women put their symptoms down to other factors such as hormones, stress or daily activities.”
The researchers of the study noted that due to difficulty in spotting early signs of the condition, up to half a million adults in the UK might not realise they have type 2 diabetes. Here are the subtle symptoms you should be looking for:
Insomnia
Insomnia could be a risk factor associated with type 2 diabetes.
A study conducted in Stockholm in 2020 found that people with insomnia were 17 percent more likely to develop diabetes than those without.
Wound healing:
High levels of sugar in the blood can damage the body’s nerve and blood circulation, slowing the healing of wounds.
The imbalanced blood glucose associated with diabetes can suppress white blood cells and impair their function, thereby increasing the risk of infection.
Thrush:
Thrush usually occurs around the genitals, but also around the mouth, armpits and in between the fingers.
Doctor Prash Vas, consultant in Diabetes at London Bridge Hospital, explained: “Because you are losing fluids – water, salt and glucose – the content of your urine has changed, allowing for the formation of candida yeast thrush.”
Unexplained weight loss:
Unexplained weight loss can be a warning sign of diabetes. Doctor Vas explained: “If the body can’t use the glucose in its system, it will start to use alternative fuel such as fat.
“Because the muscles and other organs are unable to access the blood sugar they need, you will also feel tired.”
Polydipsia and polyuria:
Polydipsia and polyuria are also believed to be early signs of type 2 diabetes. People who experience polydipsia may feel thirty all of the time or have persisted dry mouth.Polyuria is a term used when people pass more urine than normal.
People normally produce between 1 and 2 litres of urine per day, where people with polyuria produce more than 2 litres of using in a day.
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