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Signs & Symptoms of Diabetes
By Alpro Pharmacy
June 8, 2021
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Diabetes in Malaysia
Diabetes is a chronic illness, and it is getting worst in Malaysia. According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2019 by the Ministry of Health (MOH), around 3.9 million adults aged 18 and above in Malaysia are suffering from diabetes. This is higher as compared to the years before that where in 2015, the numbers stood at 3.5 million people. This is a worrying trend especially those younger ones are being diagnosed with diabetes.
Is it dangerous if its undetected?
What’s more dangerous than having diabetes? Not being aware that you have diabetes! Many people ignore the signs and symptoms of diabetes until it’s too late simply because they aren’t aware that is a sign. Fortunately, this article will be highlighting the symptoms of diabetes. You may ask, what happens if a person is unaware that they have diabetes or leave it undetected? Is it dangerous? Of course, it is!
Types of Diabetes
Before we look at the signs and symptoms of diabetes let’s look at the 2 types of diabetes. The first is Type 1 Diabetes. The symptoms usually show very quickly, and it would be very obvious. It varies from a few days to a few weeks. The symptoms are also very severe.
As for Type 2 Diabetes, its opposite of Type 1. The signs and symptoms aren’t very obvious, and it will take a while for you to actually notice them. Some people only find out about it when they are already suffering from the long-term effects from diabetes.
So, to avoid all these extreme conditions from happening, its important for you to pay attention to the signs and symptoms regardless of how small or insignificant they are.
Early Signs of Diabetes (Applies to Type 1 and 2 Diabetes)
- Hunger & Fatigue
The food that you eat is converted into glucose. Glucose is what the body uses for the production of energy, but it needs insulin to take in glucose. There are situations whereby your body does not produce insulin or enough insulin, and this causes glucose to not be able to get into them. It also leads to you not having energy thus leaving you feeling hungry and fatigue.
- Urinating More Often & Feeling Thirstier
The average person usually has to pee between four and seven times in 24 hours, but people with diabetes may go a lot more. Why? Normally, your body reabsorbs glucose as it passes through your kidneys. But when diabetes pushes your blood sugar up, your kidneys may not be able to bring it all back in. This causes the body to make more urine, and that takes fluids. The result: You’ll have to go more often. You might pee out more, too. Because you’re peeing so much, you can get very thirsty. When you drink more, you’ll also pee more.
- Dry Mouth & Itchy Skin
This happens because there is less liquid and moisture in your body as it is being used to make pee. Effects from this could be dehydration.
Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes
- Yeast Infection
Yeast infections occur because it feeds on glucose. The more glucose there is the more significant the yeast infection will be. Yeast infection can occur in areas that are warm and moist:
– Between fingers and toes
– Under breasts
– In or around sex organs
- Nerve Damage
High glucose level in the blood can affect blood flow can cause nerve damage. These nerve damage would then extend to health issues such as slow-healing cuts and pain or numbness in your feet or legs.
Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes
- Unplanned weight loss
This is caused by the fact that your body doesn’t convert the glucose into energy that’s needed. Once this happens, your body will start burning and consume your muscle and fat for its source of energy. Do not be surprised that you are losing weight even without changing your diet.
- Nausea and vomiting
Your body produces ketones. This happens when your body turns to burning fat for energy. As these ketones build up in your body, it could reach life threatening levels known as diabetic ketoacidosis.
So, if you have experienced any one of these symptoms either recently or for a long period of time, then its time for you to meet a doctor as have your blood glucose level checked. Checking them early could save yourself from diabetic complications and even life-threatening situations.
