Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
Diabetic neuropathy, or nerve damage caused by diabetes, is one of the most common known causes of neuropathy. It is one of many complications associated with diabetes, with nearly 60 percent of diabetics having some form of nerve damage. It is a progressive disease that can involve loss of sensation, as well as pain and weakness, in the feet and sometimes in the hands. Peripheral neuropathy may be more prevalent in people who have difficulty managing their blood sugar levels, have high blood pressure, are overweight, and are over 40 years old. A clinical examination may identify early signs of neuropathy in diabetics without symptoms. Today, doctors are exploring a link between pre-diabetes (also known as impaired glucose tolerance or IGT) and peripheral neuropathy. Approximately 10% of adults in America have what is being called “pre-diabetes” or “borderline diabetes”—a condition where the body has higher than normal blood sugar levels, but not high enough to be diagnosed as true diabetes. If left untreated, people with pre-diabetes are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and nerve damage (which could result in peripheral neuropathy.) People with pre-diabetes or IGT can significantly reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes through diet, exercise and learning to control their blood sugar levels. Pre Diabetes Symptoms & Signs (Not all symptoms and signs may be present.) People with IGT often have no symptoms. People who actually have diabetes—and who therefore are at greater risk of developing peripheral neuropathy—often don’t realize it because the symptoms of diabetes come on so gradually. Pre Diabetic symptoms and its complications include: Frequent urination Blurred vision Constant thirst Fatigue Frequent infections Cuts and Continue reading >>
Warning Signs Of Type 2 Diabetes
Almost a third of people who have diabetes do not know it. That number comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Additionally, most people with prediabetes — a condition that puts people at increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes — don’t know they have it. So my diabetes story, which began in ignorance, was not so unusual. I had prediabetes for a long time before the complications caused by high blood sugar led to a stroke. This is the reason I made a list of warning signs for Type 2 diabetes. Perhaps you or someone you love will see how important it is to get a simple blood sugar test. If this sneaky condition is caught early, you can avoid serious complications. The symptoms of Type 2 are well known but are easy to miss. Two of them are increased thirst and frequent urination. The word “diabetes” comes from the Greek word for “siphon.” If the beta cells in your pancreas are working, insulin is pumping into your blood to help your body digest carbohydrates like sugar and bread and noodles. But in Type 2 diabetes (or prediabetes) your cells are resistant to insulin, which leaves much of that glucose, or simple sugar, in the bloodstream. When blood glucose levels are above 250 mg/dl, the ability of the kidneys to reabsorb fluids is blocked, leading to the release of large amounts of liquid (and sugar) into the bladder. (A urine test would show high sugar content. This is why for thousands of years, diabetes was called the “sweet urine disease.”) This process uses lots of water, leading to increased thirst. Another sign of prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes is fatigue. Since your muscle cells are resisting insulin, they are not getting fed the glucose from your blood supply. It makes you tired. The problem with using fatigue as a warnin Continue reading >>
Symptoms, Diagnosis & Monitoring Of Diabetes
According to the latest American Heart Association's Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics, about 8 million people 18 years and older in the United States have type 2 diabetes and do not know it. Often type 1 diabetes remains undiagnosed until symptoms become severe and hospitalization is required. Left untreated, diabetes can cause a number of health complications. That's why it's so important to both know what warning signs to look for and to see a health care provider regularly for routine wellness screenings. Symptoms In incidences of prediabetes, there are no symptoms. People may not be aware that they have type 1 or type 2 diabetes because they have no symptoms or because the symptoms are so mild that they go unnoticed for quite some time. However, some individuals do experience warning signs, so it's important to be familiar with them. Prediabetes Type 1 Diabetes Type 2 Diabetes No symptoms Increased or extreme thirst Increased thirst Increased appetite Increased appetite Increased fatigue Fatigue Increased or frequent urination Increased urination, especially at night Unusual weight loss Weight loss Blurred vision Blurred vision Fruity odor or breath Sores that do not heal In some cases, no symptoms In some cases, no symptoms If you have any of these symptoms, see your health care provider right away. Diabetes can only be diagnosed by your healthcare provider. Who should be tested for prediabetes and diabetes? The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that you should be tested if you are: If your blood glucose levels are in normal range, testing should be done about every three years. If you have prediabetes, you should be checked for diabetes every one to two years after diagnosis. Tests for Diagnosing Prediabetes and Diabetes There are three ty Continue reading >>
Diagnosing Prediabetes: How To Test For Pre Diabetes?
My quest started with first understanding prediabetes mellitus. I wanted to know the answer to what was really happening to my body, what to expect and how to manage it. I wanted to gather all pre diabetes information that is based on sound research, not just conventional wisdom. I wanted to understand why it happened to me and how do I prevent diabetes type 2. How do I stop prediabetes mellitus progression? Is there such as thing as pre diabetes type 2? Or pre diabetes mellitus? Or is it just an intermediate stage for any form of diabetes? How likely I am to get diabetes in the future? How soon? What could be the pre diabetes complications? I had many questions running through my head and so being a research scientist, I started my literature survey to find eveything about pre diabetes. Put simply, if you have pre-diabetes, you are at high risk of developing diabetes type 2, or diabetes mellitus. You also have an increased risk of developing heart diseases. Pre diabetes is a condition in which the blood sugar level is above its normal range, but still not high enough to be classified as diabetes. The normal range of fasting blood sugar level is supposed to be under 100 mg/dl. For diabetes, we are talking a fasting plasma glucose level of about 125 mg/dl. So, if you have fasting blood sugar level is between 100 mg/dl and 125 mg/dl, then you are considered prediabetic. I have listed additional pre diabetes tests later in this article. For a quick summary, here’s the infographic released by CDC in its 2014 report on diabetes and pre diabetes. But there are two specific categories of pre diabetes that you might fall into. If your fasting glucose level is between 100-125 mg/dl, then you have “Impaired Fasting Glucose (IFG)”. If on the other hand, a two-hour oral gluco Continue reading >>
How To Identify Pre Diabetes Symptoms
Edit Article Four Parts:Identifying Symptoms of Pre-DiabetesDiagnosing Pre-DiabetesReversing Pre-DiabetesUnderstanding Pre-DiabetesCommunity Q&A Before people develop type 2 diabetes, they almost always have "pre-diabetes" — this means that they have blood glucose levels that are higher than normal, but are not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Pre-diabetes is a significant risk factor for type 2 diabetes and is also associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Luckily, if pre-diabetes is caught early enough, the condition can be reversed by switching to a healthier lifestyle. Start with Step 1 below to find out more. 1 Look for increased thirst and hunger. Two of the most noticeable symptoms of pre-diabetes are increased hunger and increased thirst. Pre-diabetes causes you to urinate more frequently, resulting in a loss of fluids. This loss of fluids leads to increased thirst. In addition, the loss of fluid makes it harder for your blood to transport energy (in the form of glucose) to the body's cells. You will find yourself eating larger quantities of food and feeling hungry more frequently, as your body tries to compensate for this lack of energy.[1] 2 Look for frequent urination. One of the mot obvious symptoms of pre-diabetes is increased urination, which may develop abruptly.This happens as a result of the increased blood glucose levels, as not all of the glucose can be reabsorbed into the blood stream. This causes higher levels of glucose in urine, which draws water from the blood and results in increased urination.[2] People with pre-diabetes may have a daily urine output from 4 liters (1.1 US gal) to as much as 30 liters (7.9 US gal). Another way to confirm pre-diabetes is to look for high levels of glucose in the urine. 3 Look for Continue reading >>
What Are The Symptoms Of Prediabetes
A A A Prediabetes (cont.) Cause Prediabetes occurs when your body isn't able to keep your sugar (glucose) at a normal level in your blood. Your blood sugar is higher than normal, but it's not high enough to be diabetes. The food you eat turns into sugar, which your body uses for energy. Normally, the pancreas makes insulin, which allows the sugar in blood to get into the body's cells. But when your body can't use insulin the right way, the sugar doesn't move into cells. It stays in your blood instead. This is called insulin resistance. The buildup of sugar in the blood causes prediabetes. If your blood sugar stays too high for too long, prediabetes can turn into type 2 diabetes. People who are overweight, aren't physically active, and have a family history of diabetes are more likely to get prediabetes. Women who have had gestational diabetes are also more likely to get prediabetes. Symptoms Most of the time, prediabetes has no symptoms. But if you have prediabetes, you need to watch for signs of type 2 diabetes, such as: Feeling very thirsty. Urinating more often than usual. Feeling very hungry. Having blurred vision. Losing weight without trying. What Happens Prediabetes is a warning sign that you are at risk for getting type 2 diabetes. When you have prediabetes, you're also at higher risk for eye, nerve, kidney and heart disease, and for stroke. For more information on these complications, see the topic Type 2 Diabetes. One Man's Story: Jerry, 54 When he first found out he had prediabetes, Jerry felt angry and frustrated. His doctor told him to lose weight and get more exercise, or else run the risk of getting type 2 diabetes. "I thought, 'What's the point? I might still get diabetes.' I felt like I was stuck either way. But it turns out there's a lot you can do."� Continue reading >>
Signs & Symptoms
There are many signs and symptoms that can indicate diabetes. Signs and symptoms can include the following: Unusual thirst Frequent urination Weight change (gain or loss) Extreme fatigue or lack of energy Blurred vision Frequent or recurring infections Cuts and bruises that are slow to heal Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet Trouble getting or maintaining an erection If you have any of these symptoms, it is important to contact your health-care provider right away. Even if you don’t have symptoms, if you are 40 or older, you should still get checked. It is important to recognize, however, that many people who have type 2 diabetes may display no symptoms. We respond to more than 20,000 requests per year by phone, email, and online chat. We are here to help give you the information and support you need so don't hesitate to contact us today. Contact Us Symptoms of diabetes in children Diabetes affects children of all ages. Most children who develop diabetes do not have a family history of diabetes. Symptoms of diabetes in your child could include: Drinking and going to the bathroom more frequently than usual Starting to wet the bed again Lack of energy If you think your child might have diabetes, see a doctor today. Diagnosis of diabetes Speak with your doctor and ask him or her to test you for diabetes using one of the following tests. The amount of glucose (sugar) in your blood is measured in mmol/L. Fasting blood glucose You must not eat or drink anything except water for at least eight hours before this test. A test result of 7.0 mmol/L or greater indicates diabetes. Random blood glucose This test may be done at any time, regardless of when you last ate. A test result of 11.0 mmol/L or greater, plus symptoms of diabetes, indicates diabetes. A1C This test may b Continue reading >>
Prediabetes
Prediabetes is a serious health condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough yet to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. Approximately 84 million American adults—more than 1 out of 3—have prediabetes. Of those with prediabetes, 90% don’t know they have it. Prediabetes puts you at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. The good news is that if you have prediabetes, the CDC-led National Diabetes Prevention Program can help you make lifestyle changes to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes and other serious health problems. Causes Insulin is a hormone made by your pancreas that acts like a key to let blood sugar into cells for use as energy. If you have prediabetes, the cells in your body don’t respond normally to insulin. Your pancreas makes more insulin to try to get cells to respond. Eventually your pancreas can’t keep up, and your blood sugar rises, setting the stage for prediabetes—and type 2 diabetes down the road. Symptoms & Risk Factors You can have prediabetes for years but have no clear symptoms, so it often goes undetected until serious health problems such as type 2 diabetes show up. It’s important to talk to your doctor about getting your blood sugar tested if you have any of the risk factors for prediabetes, which include: Being overweight Being 45 years or older Having a parent, brother, or sister with type 2 diabetes Being physically active less than 3 times a week Ever having gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) or giving birth to a baby who weighed more than 9 pounds Race and ethnicity are also a factor: African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, American Indians, Pacific Islanders, and some Asian Americans are at higher risk. Getting Tested You can get a simple blood Continue reading >>
7 Silent Symptoms Of Pre-diabetes
A little fatigue. An extra five pounds you can’t shake. A bruise that just won’t heal. None of these symptoms are especially eyebrow-raising on their own. But taken together, they could be signs of a silent epidemic that’s affecting more and more women across the country: pre-diabetes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that at least 86 million Americans—more than one in three—have the condition, which is marked by blood sugar levels that are higher than normal, but not high enough to qualify as diabetic. But as many as nine in 10 sufferers don’t know they have it, says Ashita Gupta, M.D., an endocrinologist at the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. “That’s because it’s common for people to feel perfectly normal and healthy while the disease is progressing,” she explains. Still, there are signs and symptoms you can watch out for. And you should, since pre-diabetes can be treated and reversed through dietary tweaks and healthy lifestyle changes when it’s caught earlier. But the longer it goes undiagnosed and untreated, the greater the chance of it turning into full-blown diabetes, which is much harder to rebound from. So in honor of November, which is American Diabetes Month, we asked Gupta to share some of the most common red flags of pre-diabetes. If you’ve experienced any of the symptoms on the slides ahead, ask your doctor to test you as soon as possible. Sudden spikes and dips in your blood sugar (which are common in those with pre-diabetes) can impair your eye’s ability to bend and focus, leading to blurred vision, says Gupta. The blurriness should go away once you get your sugar levels back into normal range. (Here are 10 other Surprising Things Your Eyes Reveal About Your Health.) One of the more well-known sig Continue reading >>
10 Warning Signs Of Pre-diabetes
Living a life free from disease and poor health can be a great thing, but when disease is around, it is easy to have bad thoughts towards the condition. Diabetes is a lifestyle disease of the metabolic profile in the body. It is characterized by the body’s inability to regulate sugar in the blood, which can cause energy issues and other problems. Pre-diabetes is a condition in which the name describes itself; it is not a disease, but it is a problem when blood sugar is borderline-high and almost to the point of being diagnosed as diabetes. The problem with pre-diabetes as a condition is that it is not very obvious and does not give off many signs or symptoms to suggest that something is not right in the body. With that said, listed below are 10 common signs and symptoms of pre-diabetes that you should pay attention to if you are at risk. The following warning signs might be something to follow and track to help improve your healthy lifestyle. 1. Increased Thirst Throughout the Day One of the most common symptoms of pre-diabetes is an increased desire to drink water during the day. Increased thirst is something that can easily be followed, tracked, and monitored. Be mindful that if you are more physically active and are drinking more water that this is common. Generally if you are not very active and are drinking near three liters per day, you might have high blood sugar. 2. Increased and Frequent Urination During the Day Some substances make our bodies void at a higher frequency, such as caffeine. However, if you have not had much caffeine and are still using the bathroom very frequently, there is a chance you are pre-diabetic. Frequent urination goes hand-in-hand with increased thirst and when there is more sugar in the blood, the body revs up its elimination process Continue reading >>
Prediabetes Symptoms: Are They A Reliable Indicator?
During your latest doctor’s appointment, your physician breaks the news that you have prediabetes. It means your blood-sugar levels are elevated, but not high enough to be considered type 2 diabetes. You’re surprised not only by the diagnosis, but also by the fact that you experienced no prediabetes symptoms. After all, you reason, if you have a medical condition, wouldn’t you know it? But with prediabetes symptoms, they aren’t a reliable indicator of your condition because most of the time prediabetes offers up no telltale warning signs. Once you do experience symptoms, there’s a good chance you’ve already progressed to type 2 diabetes. To thwart this progression and safeguard your cardiovascular health, take action now by changing your lifestyle, improving your overall health (a diabetic diet will help), and, if necessary, following your doctor’s recommendations regarding medical therapy. Prediabetes Symptoms Are Silent Some 15 to 30 percent of people with prediabetes symptoms progress to type 2 diabetes within five years if they fail to make appropriate lifestyle changes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes are diagnosed based on the following test results: Prediabetes Fasting glucose test: 100–125 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) Oral glucose tolerance test: 140–199 mg/dL Hemoglobin A1c: 5.7–6.4 percent Type 2 diabetes Fasting glucose test: 126 mg/dL or higher Oral glucose tolerance test: 200 mg/dL or higher Hemoglobin A1c: 6.5 percent or higher Trouble is, unless you see your doctor and get tested, there’s no way to know for certain if you’re on the path to type 2 diabetes. That’s because prediabetes symptoms are virtually nonexistent. Rather, symptoms aren’t likely to occur Continue reading >>
Diabetes Symptoms In Men: 4 Different Signs
What is diabetes? What are the types of diabetes? Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that occurs when your blood sugar (glucose), is too high (hyperglycemia). Glucose is what the body uses for energy, and the pancreas produces a hormone called insulin that helps convert the glucose from the food you eat into energy. When the body either does not produce enough insulin, does not produce any at all, or your body becomes resistant to the insulin, the glucose does not reach your cells to be used for energy. This results in the health condition termed diabetes. There are two main types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes, formerly called juvenile diabetes, because it usually is diagnosed during childhood. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which the body does not produce insulin because the body’s immune system attacks insulin-producing cells from the pancreas called beta cells. Type 1 diabetes is treated by using insulin. Type 2 diabetes is a condition in which cells cannot use blood sugar (glucose) efficiently for energy. This occurs when blood sugar levels get too high over time, and the cells become insensitive or resistant to insulin (termed insulin resistance). There are multiple medications used to treat type 2 diabetes. What is prediabetes (pre-diabetes)? Prediabetes is a condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but a person does not yet have diabetes. Prediabetes and high blood glucose levels are a risk factor for developing diabetes, heart disease, and other health problems. Other warning signs prediabetes may include increased urination, feeling you need to urinate more often, and/or increased thirst. What warning signs and symptoms of diabetes are the same in men and women? There are diabetes warning signs and symptom Continue reading >>
Prediabetes
Prediabetes is the precursor stage before diabetes mellitus in which not all of the symptoms required to diagnose diabetes are present, but blood sugar is abnormally high. This stage is often referred to as the "grey area."[1] It is not a disease; the American Diabetes Association says,[2] "Prediabetes should not be viewed as a clinical entity in its own right but rather as an increased risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Prediabetes is associated with obesity (especially abdominal or visceral obesity), dyslipidemia with high triglycerides and/or low HDL cholesterol, and hypertension."[2] It is thus a metabolic diathesis or syndrome, and it usually involves no symptoms and only high blood sugar as the sole sign. Impaired fasting blood sugar and impaired glucose tolerance are two forms of prediabetes that are similar in clinical definition (glucose levels too high for their context) but are physiologically distinct.[3] Insulin resistance, the insulin resistance syndrome (metabolic syndrome or syndrome X), and prediabetes are closely related to one another and have overlapping aspects. Classification[edit] Impaired fasting glucose[edit] Main article: Impaired fasting glycaemia Impaired fasting glycaemia or impaired fasting glucose (IFG) refers to a condition in which the fasting blood glucose or the 3-month average blood glucose (A1C) is elevated above what is considered normal levels but is not high enough to be classified as diabetes mellitus. It is considered a pre-diabetic state, associated with insulin resistance and increased risk of cardiovascular pathology, although of lesser risk than impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). IFG sometimes progresses to type 2 diabetes mellitus. There is a 50% risk over 10 years of progressing to overt diabetes. Many newl Continue reading >>
What You Need To Know About Diabetes
Across the globe, the rate of diabetes has skyrocketed — quadrupled, in fact — in the last few decades. As of 2012, over 9% of the U.S. population has diabetes — and more than 8.1 million people who have it don't know it, according to the American Diabetes Association. We spoke with Dorothy Fink, MD, an endocrinologist at NYU Langone Medical Center, to find out what you need to know about the condition, including its main warning signs. What's the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes? To understand the two diseases, you have to first understand what's supposed to happen. After eating — if you're healthy — your digestive system will break down food into basic sugars (a.k.a. glucose) that it can use as fuel. In order for it to do that, though, your pancreas has to release the hormone insulin, which acts like a key for each of your cells, unlocking them so the glucose can enter and be used for fuel. But in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, there is a kink in this system. Dr. Fink explains that type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune response, which means that antibodies from a patient's own immune system start to attack the pancreas, damaging it and preventing it from producing insulin. Without the insulin, the body's cells can't use the glucose, so it builds up in the blood, causing the "high blood sugar" that can be dangerous. People with type 1 usually have to rely on insulin injections to make sure their bodies can regulate their blood sugar and their cells get the fuel they need. Patients with type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, can still make insulin, but their bodies have become resistant to the hormone, so it isn't as effective at moving the glucose into the cells. Over time, people with type 2 may also stop making enough insulin, eventually be Continue reading >>
Prediabetes (borderline Diabetes)
Tweet Prediabetes, also commonly referred to as borderline diabetes, is a metabolic condition and growing global problem that is closely tied to obesity. If undiagnosed or untreated, prediabetes can develop into type 2 diabetes; which whilst treatable is currently not fully reversible. What is prediabetes? Prediabetes is characterised by the presence of blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be classed as diabetes. For this reason, prediabetes is often described as the “gray area” between normal blood sugar and diabetic levels. In the UK, around 7 million people are estimated to have prediabetes and thus have a high risk for developing type 2 diabetes. [17] Prediabetes may be referred to as impaired fasting glucose (IFT), if you have higher than normal sugar levels after a period of fasting, or as impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), if you have higher than normal sugar levels following eating. The increasing number of new cases of prediabetes presents a global concern as it carries large scale implications towards the future burden on healthcare. Between 2003 and 2011, the prevalence of prediabetes in England alone more than tripled, with 35.3% of the adult population, or 1 in every 3 people having prediabetes. [106] Learn more about prediabetes Prediabetes is a critical stage in the development of diabetes, for it is at this point that lifestyle choices can be made to turn it around. Early, decisive action can slow down or even halt the development of type 2 diabetes. What are the symptoms of prediabetes? Many people have prediabetes but are completely unaware of it. This is because the condition often develops gradually without any warning signs or symptoms. In many cases, the sufferer only learns of their borderline diabetic sta Continue reading >>
