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A doctor holding a shot | Source: iStock
Of the estimated 24 million people in the U.S. with the disease (including several notable athletes), only 18 million are aware that they have it, leaving six million Americans who have no idea that they are living with diabetes. People with diabetes are not able to use the hormone insulin properly. Insulin is necessary to get sugar from your blood to your cells so they can use it as energy.
When the insulin doesn’t function as it should, the sugar accumulates in the blood instead of being used by the cells. The symptoms can be mild enough that unless you’re aware of the signs, you may live years without knowing that your body is functioning improperly. Watch for these warning signs, pay attention to gradual changes, and if something seems off, see your doctor for a blood sugar test. The longer you go without treating the disease the greater your risk for heart disease, kidney disease, amputation, blindness, and other serious complications.
1. Thirst and excessive pee breaks
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People who have diabetes may pee more than someone who is healthy | Source: iStock
2. Constant hunger
When you have high blood sugar, your body will have challenges regulating its glucose. If you’ve eaten something that is high in carbohydrates, your body will make too much insulin while your glucose tends to drop quickly. This will impact you by making you feel shaky and hungry, especially for carbs or sugar that will drive up your glucose levels again.3. Rapid weight loss
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Rapid weight loss could be a sign of diabetes | Source: iStock
4. Foot pain and numbness
Over time, abnormally high blood sugar levels will cause damage to the body’s nerves, a condition called diabetic neuropathy. While not all people experience this symptom, more advanced cases of diabetes may notice numbness, tingling, or pain in their extremities, typically starting with the feet. This symptom is most common in people who have had type 2 diabetes for 25 years or more, but it can occur in people who are in the early stages as well.5. Blurry vision
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Blurred vision is an early warning sign of diabetes | Source: iStock
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