The top 7 warning signs of diabetes

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a common condition that occurs when the sugar levels in your blood become too high. It’s a lifelong condition that causes many symptoms, but it’s one that can be managed effectively – especially if you understand the key warning signs of diabetes and how to treat it.

Diabetes affects how your body regulates the hormone insulin. Insulin is produced by your pancreas and is the hormone that controls the amount of glucose in your bloodstream. You need glucose in your bloodstream because it stores sugar from the food you eat and acts as your body’s main source of energy,  keeping you fit and healthy and able to function. When your body is not able to regulate insulin it can have dangerous and even life-threatening effects.

If you’re feeling more tired than usual, or need to go to the toilet more regularly, it might be diabetes. However, it’s important to note that many conditions can cause tiredness as well as the other main diabetes symptoms. This is why you should always speak to a doctor to share your experience, as they will be able to diagnose you properly.

If you have symptoms of diabetes or have just been diagnosed, try not to be worried. The condition is very manageable, and sometimes even reversible.

Can diabetes lead to other health problems?

Some people living with diabetes can develop health conditions related to diabetes. This is because high blood glucose levels can cause damage to your organs, such as your heart, kidneys, feet, and eyes. This kind of damage happens over a long period of time when diabetes is left untreated or not managed properly.

If you find the right treatment for your diabetes and learn how to control your symptoms through a combination of medication and diet and lifestyle changes, you will not be at high risk of developing a related health condition. Your healthcare team will ensure you manage your symptoms properly to protect your overall health, so you don’t have to worry about the condition of organs such as your heart and eyes.

Type 1 diabetes

There are two main types of diabetes, and each is managed differently.

Type 1 diabetes is when your body’s immune system attacks the healthy cells that produce insulin in your body. The exact cause of this is unknown, but it has nothing to do with your diet or exercise regime. Around 8% of people living with diabetes in the UK having type 1 diabetes.

If you have type 1 diabetes, you will need to take insulin shots (an injection using a fine needle), or wear a special insulin pump every day (a small device worn on the outside of your body that produces insulin throughout the day and when you eat). You need to monitor the carbohydrates you eat daily with type 1 diabetes. This helps you understand how much insulin to take with your meal to maintain balanced blood sugar (glucose) levels.

Type 2 diabetes

This is when either your body does not produce enough insulin, or your body becomes resistant to insulin. It is also known as maturity onset diabetes, because it develops during adulthood. Around 90% of people living with diabetes in the UK have type 2 diabetes.

Maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle can help you effectively manage type 2 diabetes – even sometimes helping you go into remission from the condition. You can also take medication to keep your blood sugar at a healthy level. You might also need an insulin device such as an injection pen or pump to regulate your blood sugar level. Many people use a combination of a healthy diet and lifestyle with insulin medication to manage their condition.

Understanding the key diabetes symptoms

There are several key warning signs of diabetes. Having these diabetes symptoms does not necessarily mean you have diabetes, but we recommend speaking with your doctor if you experience any of the following:

1. Needing to go to the toilet a lot, especially at night

When you have diabetes, glucose (a kind of sugar) builds up in your blood. This causes your kidneys to work extra hard to filter and absorb the extra glucose, which is excreted into your urine with other fluids, making you dehydrated. Need to go to the toilet regularly can interfere with your everyday routine and cause disrupted sleep patterns, which can lead to feelings of frustration and exhaustion.

2. Feeling thirsty all the time

With diabetes, you are more likely to become thirsty because you become dehydrated for the reason explained above. You might find yourself thirsty 24/7 despite drinking multiple glasses of water. People with diabetes describe the thirst as a “dry feeling” that doesn’t go away even when they stay as hydrated as possible.

3. Feeling more tired than usual

If your blood sugar levels are too low or too high with diabetes, then you might experience lethargy and tiredness while your body works hard to regulate your blood sugar levels. This can vary from feelings of low-level tiredness to complete exhaustion. Tiredness from unregulated insulin levels can cause lethargy in the morning and even when doing non-strenuous activity such as walking.

4. Losing weight without trying to

The insufficient insulin levels caused by diabetes prevent your body from getting the energy and fuel it needs. It begins burning fat and muscle for energy at a fast rate, which can result in rapid, unexplained weight loss. Unexplained weight loss can be alarming, so it’s important to visit your doctor to get to the root of its cause.

5. Itching around your genitals or frequent episodes of thrush

High blood sugar levels can help the bacteria that causes thrush to grow. Thrush is a common yeast infection that causes itchiness and sometimes unusual discharge. Other symptoms of thrush include soreness and stinging during sex and when you pee. While thrush can be treated with medication, it is important to figure out its root cause (whether it could be diabetes when compared with other symptoms).

6. Cuts and wounds that take longer to heal

For people with diabetes, minor cuts and wounds can become a serious issue, because the condition can slow down the body’s speed of healing. Blood glucose levels are closely tied to wound healing, and so if your blood sugar is poorly regulated your body isn’t as able to repair itself. This can be a very difficult symptom of diabetes however if you keep your blood sugar levels under control it can be avoided.

7. Blurred vision

Your eye lens can swell with diabetes, causing your vision to become blurred.

The earlier you are diagnosed with diabetes, the easier it is to manage the condition, so it is important to speak with your doctor if you are struggling with any of the symptoms listed above. No person is the same and everyone experiences symptoms differently and to varying degrees. The most common symptoms are increased thirst, the increased urge to pee, tiredness, and losing weight. These symptoms can be caused by several conditions, not just diabetes. Your doctor can discuss these with you.

Losing weight with diabetes

There are many benefits to losing weight when you have diabetes, but we understand that losing weight isn’t always easy. It takes time and dedication, but being at a healthy weight significantly reduces your risk of developing complications from diabetes, such as problems with your heart and vision, which could mean having to inject less insulin. It also means you are generally more fit and healthy, which often has a positive impact on your overall emotional wellbeing.

As mentioned above, if you have type 2 diabetes, losing weight can also help you go into remission from the condition (if you are obese).

Get help from a dietician

Losing weight isn’t simple for everyone, but working with a dietician can help you build and follow healthy, tasty meal plans to keep healthy – you might find the lifestyle change challenging at first, but many people fall into the swing of their meal planning and see results quickly.

At Circle Health Group, we have dieticians who take the time to understand your circumstances and dietary needs and how best to reach your weight goals. They will work with you to build a weekly meal plan tailored to your needs. They will also ensure you understand how best to follow your meal plans, motivating you to reach your goals.

Get active

Healthy eating combined with regular movement can help significantly with weight loss. The exercise you do doesn’t have to be strenuous or high impact to be effective. Even regular walking can help build and maintain your fitness levels. It can help you build stamina, boost your cardiovascular health, and reduce the risk of heart disease and other health conditions.

Find out more about diabetes and treatment options with Circle Health Group

Living with pre-diabetes

You might have pre-diabetes, which occurs when your bloody sugar levels are above the normal range, but not high enough to be diagnosed as having diabetes. Prediabetes is also known as non-diabetic hyperglycaemia. If you have prediabetes, you are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Although being diagnosed with pre-diabetes can be concerning, you can adapt your lifestyle to manage your symptoms and reverse the condition, preventing you from getting type 2 diabetes.

Symptoms of prediabetes are very similar to those of type 2 diabetes. They include needing to go to the toilet more often, increased levels of thirst, unexplained weight loss, and sometimes blurred vision.

Exercises for prediabetes

There are many exercises you can do to build your strength and increase your fitness levels, reducing your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and helping you reverse prediabetes. A great way to lose weight is with a combination of aerobics and strength training.

Exercise such as jogging, cycling, and rowing are examples of higher intensity aerobic exercises, while walking is an example of a lower intensity aerobic exercise. A mixture of strength training (lifting weights), aerobic exercise, and maintaining a healthy, balanced diet, is the most effective way to lose weight and stay healthy.

If you have prediabetes, you can work with a dietician to manage your symptoms and reverse the condition.

Getting help with Circle Health Group

At Circle Health Group, we offer a range of services to help diagnose and manage type 1 and 2 diabetes. Your consultant will work with you to understand how diabetes affects you specifically and build your treatment plan centred around your needs. They will ensure you work with a dietician to manage your symptoms and get the best diet plan for you.

To speak with a specialist consultant or dietician, call us or book an appointment online.