Undiagnosed Diabetes
Diabetes Forum The Global Diabetes Community Find support, ask questions and share your experiences. Join the community I was thinking how easy it is to go undiagnosed with T2 for years for those who do not have any symptoms and how eventually it could be really harmful I was only diagnosed about 2 years ago with T2 at the age of 76. I know I did not have it earlier than that as I had annual blood tests that covered glucose levels as well because I take blood pressure tablets. I had always been healthy never overweight and very rarely ever saw a doctor.When I was about 65 I went for the pneumonia jab the nurse took my blood pressure and said it was a bit high she checked it again over the next couple of weeks and although not exceedingly high she advised I saw the doctor who said it was an age thing and put me on tablets. .From then on I had regular BP checks which was always good and annual blood tests and eventually about 10 years later was diagnosed with T2. I never had any symptoms and have never felt any different then or now I am still fit no mobility problems so I am thankful for that. I probably would not have known I had T2 if I did not have the blood test every year but do wonder how many are going undiagnosed maybe for years until there is a serious problem I suspect that a couple of illnesses which saw me on antibiotics for long stretches could have been the start of my diabetes, but they were in my teens and early twenties - I was diagnosed at 65. Luckily I always had trouble with my weight once I was working and away from my native haunts - I used to go miles every evening after school, so I started eating fewer carbohydrates. Later on I discovered Atkins, so I went through most of my adult life either eating low carb or getting fatter very quickly, feeli Continue reading >>
Warning About The One In 70 People Who Have Undiagnosed Type 2 Diabetes
Warning about the one in 70 people who have undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes Warning about the one in 70 people who have undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes Almost one in 70 people in the UK are living with undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes and so are missing out on vital health checks, according to Diabetes UK. According to an analysis to mark the start of Diabetes Week today, at least one passenger on a full double decker bus, or more than 1,000 football supporters at a filled to capacity Wembley Stadium, would be likely to have an undiagnosed case of the condition. With an estimated 850,000 cases of undiagnosed cases of Type 2 diabetes in the UK, around one person in every 74 has an undiagnosed case of the condition. This means that most people will have a friend or family member who has the condition but does not know it. We are urging people to get risk assessed to find out if they are at high risk, because the longer diabetes is left untreated, the greater the risk of developing devastating complications such as amputation, blindness, kidney failure and stroke. At the moment, people with Type 2 diabetes are being diagnosed worryingly late, with about half of people with the condition already having signs of complications by the time they are diagnosed. To help identify people who are at high risk, Diabetes UK and Bupa have launched a series of healthy lifestyle roadshows that will visit 50 locations over the next few months. The roadshow teams will refer people who are at high risk to their GP. This will mean that people who have the condition can be diagnosed,whilst those who do not have it but are at high risk can be given the advice and support to help prevent it. The series of roadshows is being launched today with an attempt to set a Guinness World Record for the number of wai Continue reading >>
What It’s Like To Have Uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes
One of the greatest dangers of type 2 diabetes is that it can be slow and silent. Many people with the condition don’t experience any symptoms at all, even though their unbalanced blood sugar is already affecting their cells and tissue. You might be one of those people. How can you tell if you're at risk for developing type 2 diabetes? You may be more likely to develop the condition if you: Are overweight, with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or higher Are inactive Are age 45 or older Have a family history of type 2 diabetes Are African-American, Hispanic, American Indian, Asian-American, or a Pacific Islander Have low levels of HDL, or the “good” cholesterol Have high levels of triglycerides (a type of fat) in your blood Although the telltale signs of type 2 diabetes may develop slowly over many years, the condition will cause symptoms for many people. Do any of these sound familiar? Increased thirst Frequent urination Increased hunger Unexplained weight loss Extreme fatigue Irritability Blurred vision Sores that are slow to heal Skin, bladder, or gum infections Whether you're experiencing any of these symptoms or not, uncontrolled levels of high blood sugar over time can lead to tissue damage throughout your body, from your eyes to your toes. Uncontrolled Diabetes Is Scary — and Even Deadly Type 2 diabetes damages essential systems in your body: your blood vessels, nerves, or both. The consequences of uncontrolled diabetes can be very serious, and some can eventually be fatal. They include: Infections Amputations due to infections in the feet These complications sound scary — and they are. Fortunately, controlling your blood-glucose levels can help prevent many of these secondary problems, or at least manage them if they have already developed. Take Action Tod Continue reading >>
Early Symptoms Of Diabetes
What are the symptoms of diabetes? Although the signs of diabetes can begin to show early, sometimes it takes a person a while to recognize the symptoms. This often makes it seem like signs and symptoms of diabetes appear suddenly. That’s why it’s important to pay attention to your body, rather than simply brushing them off. To that end, here are some type 1 and type 2 diabetes symptoms that you may want to watch out for: If you’re experiencing frequent urination your body might be telling you that your kidneys are trying to expel excess sugar in your blood. The resulting dehydration may then cause extreme thirst. Along the same lines, the lack of available fluids may also give you dry mouth and itchy skin. If you experience increased hunger or unexpected weight loss it could be because your body isn’t able to get adequate energy from the food you eat. High blood sugar levels can affect blood flow and cause nerve damage, which makes healing difficult. So having slow-healing cuts/sores is also a potential sign of diabetes. Yeast infections may occur in men and women who have diabetes as a result of yeast feeding on glucose. Other signs of diabetes Pay attention if you find yourself feeling drowsy or lethargic; pain or numbness in your extremities; vision changes; fruity or sweet-smelling breath which is one of the symptoms of high ketones; and experiencing nausea or vomiting—as these are additional signs that something is not right. If there’s any question, see your doctor immediately to ensure that your blood sugar levels are safe and rule out diabetes. So what are the low blood sugar symptoms you should look out for? It’s important to realize that the signs of… Polyuria occurs when your body urinates more frequently—and often in larger amounts—than Continue reading >>
Early Symptoms Of Type 2 Diabetes Can Be Easy To Miss
Type 2 diabetes is a sneaky devil. Early on, the warning signs can be hard to spot and people sometimes chalk them up to stress or fatigue, and shrug them off. But screening tests and understanding your risk can help people spot diabetes sooner and get the treatment they need, say experts. "The main thing about early diabetes is that you can have abnormal blood sugar for quite some time and be fairly asymptomatic," Dr. Susan Spratt, an endocrinologist and assistant professor of medicine at Duke University School of Medicine, told CBS News. More than 29 million Americans have diabetes - that's nearly 1 out of 10 U.S. adults - and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than a quarter of them are undiagnosed. Millions of others are considered at high risk for developing diabetes. Spratt said some people with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes may experience dry mouth, excessive thirst, and they may urinate more frequently. Blurry vision can occur, too. Cuts and bruises may be slow to heal and you may feel tingling, pain, or numbness in your hands and feet, according to the American Diabetes Association. Feeling hungry, even after eating, and experiencing extreme fatigue are symptoms, as well. What's happening in the body when type 2 diabetes is lurking? The condition develops when the body becomes resistant to insulin or when the pancreas stops producing enough insulin. It's not clear why this happens, but genetics and factors such as weight and a sedentary lifestyle can play into the equation, Mayo Clinic experts say. The body needs insulin to survive - it's secreted into the bloodstream via the pancreas. When insulin circulates, it enables sugar to enter cells and lowers the amount of sugar in the bloodstream. With type 2 diabetes, instead of insulin Continue reading >>
Diabetes Symptoms You Can’t Afford To Ignore & What You Can Do About Them
In the U.S., diabetes — or diabetes mellitus (DM) — is full-blown epidemic, and that’s not hyperbole. An estimated 29 million Americans have some form of diabetes, nearly 10 percent of the population, and even more alarming, the average American has a one in three chance of developing diabetes symptoms at some point in his or her lifetime. (1) The statistics are alarming, and they get even worse. Another 86 million people have prediabetes, with up to 30 percent of them developing type 2 diabetes within five years. And perhaps the most concerning, about a third of people who have diabetes — approximately 8 million adults — are believed to be undiagnosed and unaware. That’s why it’s so vital to understand and recognize diabetes symptoms. And there’s actually good news. While there’s technically no known “cure” for diabetes — whether it’s type 1, type 2 or gestational diabetes — there’s plenty that can be done to help reverse diabetes naturally, control diabetes symptoms and prevent diabetes complications. The Most Common Diabetes Symptoms Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder that results from problems controlling the hormone insulin. Diabetes symptoms are a result of higher-than-normal levels of glucose (sugar) in your blood. With type 1 diabetes, symptoms usually develop sooner and at a younger age than with type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes also normally causes more severe symptoms. In fact, because type 2 diabetes signs and symptoms can be minimal in some cases, it sometimes can go diagnosed for a long period of time, causing the problem to worsen and long-term damage to develop. While it’s still not entirely known how this happens, prolonged exposure to high blood sugar can damage nerve fibers that affect the blood vessels, heart, e Continue reading >>
7 Early Signs Of Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a preventable disease that affects more than 9 percent of the U.S. population, or about 29 million people. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than a quarter — some 8 million people — remain undiagnosed. With complications including nerve damage, kidney damage, poor blood circulation, and even death, it’s important for us all to know the early signs of type 2 diabetes. What Is Type 2 Diabetes? Type 2 diabetes is a condition that makes it difficult for the body to manage glucose levels in the blood — something typically regulated by a hormone known as insulin. This can be because your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, the cells don’t respond to insulin correctly, or a combination of both. Obesity is a major risk factor for the disease. While most common in adults, it is increasingly being diagnosed in children, in part due to the childhood obesity epidemic. Long-term uncontrolled blood sugar levels can lead to complications like nerve damage, kidney damage, hearing impairment, skin problems, eye damage, and heart disease. Some of these complications, like poor circulation, can eventually lead to amputations, most commonly of the feet or legs. Preventing these complications requires a diagnosis and consistent treatment. Identifying the early symptoms of type 2 diabetes can make this possible. Learn More About Type 2 Diabetes The early signs of this disease are not always obvious. They may develop slowly over time, making them hard to identify. Many are asymptomatic. Because they can worsen over a period of years, type 2 diabetes may remain undiagnosed longer than other, more obvious conditions. 1. Frequent Urination Also known as polyuria, frequent and/or excessive urination is a sign that your blood sugar is Continue reading >>
Undiagnosed Diabetes And Pre-diabetes
More than 25 million people in the U.S. have diabetes, indicates the American Diabetes Association, and of those, only 18.8 million have been formally diagnosed with the disease…. In fact, some 7 million people live with undiagnosed diabetes, and as many as 79 million people in the United States live with prediabetes – elevated blood glucose levels, which are almost always a precursor to type 2 diabetes. Lawrence Barker, PhD Associate Director for Science in CDC’s Division of Diabetes Translation, stated that, “In 2010, 35 percent or 79 million Americans aged 20 years or older had prediabetes (50 percent of those aged 65 years or older). Similarly, 36 percent of Mexican American adults were estimated to have prediabetes in 2010,” “Prediabetes has few obvious physical signs. Rather than look for physical signs, one should consider one’s risk factors (such as obesity, sedentary lifestyle, family history of diabetes, and age) and then have one’s prediabetes status assessed by a health care provider.” Because there are not many symptoms associated with prediabetes, when it blossoms into type 2 diabetes, many individuals are unaware they have a very serious disease. Prevention is key. Barker explains individuals with type 2 diabetes can go years without exhibiting outward symptoms, and because of that, just as with prediabetes, it is important for a person to know the risk factors for developing the disease. “Rather than focusing on symptoms, people who are at high risk of type 2 diabetes are better off seeking assessment by their health care provider. “Obesity puts one at greater risk of developing prediabetes and, if one has prediabetes, at greater risk for developing type 2 diabetes,” said Barker. “Many factors influence one’s risk of developin Continue reading >>
Lee: 'undiagnosed Diabetes Nearly Killed Me'
Lee, a young slim guy, on the dangers of ignoring the symptoms of diabetes. There are two popular myths about diabetes. One is that it is caused by obesity and doesn't affect slim people. The other is that it's not serious because it can be managed with diet or injections. Neither are true. Ignoring the symptoms of diabetes is very dangerous - as 35 year old Lee found out. There's more about the symptoms in our Diabetes FAQs. This is Lee's story. I had all the classic symptoms - weight loss, thirst, thrush but I did nothing about it. I did not like going to the doctor so I would just put it off. I was divorced in 2003 and lost a lot of weight so put it down to stress. I started to drink a lot as I was newly single again, so that took care of the thirst! I remember not feeling too well but as I was partying a lot I would just put it down to hangovers, and the thrush, well, I did not want to see anyone about that... I thought I had caught something and did not want to know. This carried on for about a year or so then levelled out. It just became the normal thing - I stayed slim, didn't exercise and drank heavily. I had erection problems Fast forward, I started getting erection problems. Again, I was too embarrassed to see anyone and put it down to the drink. I was having diarrhoea, started losing more weight, feeling very tired. I was always drinking water, my mouth was very dry, I was urinating all the time, I then had a rash start on my legs that did not go away. I was embarrassed and maybe I did not want to know what was wrong. I then had a boil on my left leg and within a couple of days two more appeared. I was feeling very poorly and couldn't go to work. Then one day I could not get my breath and an ambulance was called and I was rushed to hospital. It was May 2007 a Continue reading >>
What Are The Real Symptoms Of Type 2 Diabetes?
Contrary to what you might read elsewhere, the actual symptoms that most people with Type 2 diabetes experience right before they are given a diabetes diagnosis are not increased thirst, a continual need to urinate, and unexplained weight loss. These symptoms are typical of Type 1 diabetes. And they also occur in people with Type 2 Diabetes when their beta cells have become so damaged by years of exposure to very high blood sugars that they no longer can secrete any insulin. But nowadays most people are diagnosed with diabetes early enough that they have not experienced this kind of diabetic damage. Neither do many people who are fully diabetic have several other diabetic symptoms you see listed on the American Diabetes Association's web site: slow healing of cuts and bruises, and pain and tingling in their hands and feet. These symptoms also are associated with long-standing diabetes, as they are the result of diabetic nerve damage, a diabetic complication that typically takes years to develop. People with diabetes may experience three symptoms also listed on the ADA's list of diabetic symptoms in the months or year before diagnosis: blurry vision, extreme tiredness, and feeling very hungry though eating sufficient food. But so do many other people who don't have diabetes, since these symptoms can be produced by thyroid problems, allergies, or coming down with the flu. So these symptoms alone are not enough to suggest that a person has diabetes. Though if you do experience relentless hunger, which often produces the obesity so many doctors incorrectly believe causes diabetes, it is a very good idea to ask your doctor to test your blood sugar to ensure that in your case this relentless hunger is not a true symptom of diabetes or prediabetes. That said, however, the most Continue reading >>
Could You Have Type 2? 10 Diabetes Symptoms
Diabetes symptoms Diabetes affects 24 million people in the U.S., but only 18 million know they have it. About 90% of those people have type 2 diabetes. In diabetes, rising blood sugar acts like a poison. Diabetes is often called the silent killer because of its easy-to-miss symptoms. "Almost every day people come into my office with diabetes who don't know it," says Maria Collazo-Clavell, MD, an endocrinologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. The best way to pick up on it is to have a blood sugar test. But if you have these symptoms, see your doctor. Watch the video: 5 Ways to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes Increased urination, excessive thirst If you need to urinate frequently—particularly if you often have to get up at night to use the bathroom—it could be a symptom of diabetes. The kidneys kick into high gear to get rid of all that extra glucose in the blood, hence the urge to relieve yourself, sometimes several times during the night. The excessive thirst means your body is trying to replenish those lost fluids. These two symptoms go hand in hand and are some of "your body's ways of trying to manage high blood sugar," explains Dr. Collazo-Clavell. Weight loss Overly high blood sugar levels can also cause rapid weight loss, say 10 to 20 pounds over two or three months—but this is not a healthy weight loss. Because the insulin hormone isn't getting glucose into the cells, where it can be used as energy, the body thinks it's starving and starts breaking down protein from the muscles as an alternate source of fuel. The kidneys are also working overtime to eliminate the excess sugar, and this leads to a loss of calories (and can harm the kidneys). "These are processes that require a lot of energy," Dr. Collazo-Clavell notes. "You create a calorie deficit." Hunger Continue reading >>
Prevalence Of Undiagnosed Type 2 Diabetes In Patients Admitted With Acute Coronary Syndrome: The Utility Of Easily Reproducible Screening Methods
Prevalence of undiagnosed type 2 diabetes in patients admitted with acute coronary syndrome: the utility of easily reproducible screening methods 1Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Heartlands Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham, UK 3Institute of Metabolism and Systems, School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT UK 1Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Heartlands Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham, UK 3Institute of Metabolism and Systems, School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT UK 6Centre of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Birmingham Health Partners, Birmingham, UK 1Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Heartlands Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham, UK 2Department of Diabetes, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK 3Institute of Metabolism and Systems, School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT UK 4Department of Clinical Chemistry, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK 5Department of Clinical Chemistry, Heartlands Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham, UK 6Centre of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Birmingham Health Partners, Birmingham, UK Muhammad A. Karamat, Phone: 0121 4243593, Email: [email protected] . Received 2016 May 29; Accepted 2017 Jan 3. Open AccessThis article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( ), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver ( ) app Continue reading >>
Prevalence Of Diagnosed And Undiagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Among Us Adolescents: Results From The Continuous Nhanes, 19992010
Prevalence of Diagnosed and Undiagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Among US Adolescents: Results From the Continuous NHANES, 19992010 Correspondence to Dr. Ryan T. Demmer, Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10040 (e-mail: [email protected] ). Search for other works by this author on: American Journal of Epidemiology, Volume 178, Issue 7, 1 October 2013, Pages 11061113, Ryan T. Demmer, Aleksandra M. Zuk, Michael Rosenbaum, Mose Desvarieux; Prevalence of Diagnosed and Undiagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Among US Adolescents: Results From the Continuous NHANES, 19992010, American Journal of Epidemiology, Volume 178, Issue 7, 1 October 2013, Pages 11061113, Although prevalence and incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are reportedly increasing among adolescents, national data are lacking, particularly in regard to undiagnosed T2DM. To estimate the prevalence of diagnosed and undiagnosed T2DM among US adolescents, we analyzed a nationally representative cross-section of 11,888 adolescents aged 1219 years who received a diabetes interview in the Continuous National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey during 19992010. Among them, a random subsample of 4,661 adolescents also had fasting blood samples collected. Persons who reported a previous diabetes diagnosis and were either taking no medication or taking an oral hypoglycemic agent (with or without insulin) were classified as having T2DM; persons who reported using insulin alone were classified as having type 1 diabetes. Undiagnosed diabetes was defined as a fasting plasma glucose concentration of 126 mg/dL and was assumed to be type 2. In the fasting subsample, 31 diabetes cases (types 1 and 2) were identified, representing a pre Continue reading >>
Symptoms Of Diabetes: Seven Signs You Could Have The Condition
The symptoms are not always obvious, and many people could be suffering with the condition for years before they learn they have it. Every week 4,500 people are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes across the UK. However, experts warn thousands could be living with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes. The condition, which can be caused by being overweight and poor diet can cause blindness, limbs to be amputated - every week diabetes causes 150 amputations - and even kidney failure. It has even been linked to a reduce life expectancy if the condition it not managed well. People also need to ensure they look after their feet properly as high levels of blood glucose can cause foot problems. This can stop nerves working so people might not feel when they have cut their feet or burned themselves. The main symptoms of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are: Urinating more often than usual - particularly at night Excessive urination can be triggered by excess glucose in the blood which interferes with the kidney’s ability to concentrate urine. Feeling thirsty Kidneys have to work harder in people with type 2 diabetes. Puldisia is the term given to excessive thirst. Diabetes.co.uk said: “If you feel thirsty all the time or your thirst is stronger than usual and continues even after you drink, it can be a sign that not all is well inside your body.” If you feel thirsty all the time or your thirst is stronger than usual and continues even after you drink, it can be a sign that not all is well inside your body Feeling tired Feeling tired could be a symptom of many conditions - but it can be caused in people who have low blood sugar. Itching around the penis or vagina Thrush - a yeast infection - tends to affect warm, moist areas of the body such as the vagina, penis, mouth and certain areas Continue reading >>
Type 2 Diabetes
Print Overview Type 2 diabetes, once known as adult-onset or noninsulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic condition that affects the way your body metabolizes sugar (glucose), your body's important source of fuel. With type 2 diabetes, your body either resists the effects of insulin — a hormone that regulates the movement of sugar into your cells — or doesn't produce enough insulin to maintain a normal glucose level. More common in adults, type 2 diabetes increasingly affects children as childhood obesity increases. There's no cure for type 2 diabetes, but you may be able to manage the condition by eating well, exercising and maintaining a healthy weight. If diet and exercise aren't enough to manage your blood sugar well, you also may need diabetes medications or insulin therapy. Symptoms Signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes often develop slowly. In fact, you can have type 2 diabetes for years and not know it. Look for: Increased thirst and frequent urination. Excess sugar building up in your bloodstream causes fluid to be pulled from the tissues. This may leave you thirsty. As a result, you may drink — and urinate — more than usual. Increased hunger. Without enough insulin to move sugar into your cells, your muscles and organs become depleted of energy. This triggers intense hunger. Weight loss. Despite eating more than usual to relieve hunger, you may lose weight. Without the ability to metabolize glucose, the body uses alternative fuels stored in muscle and fat. Calories are lost as excess glucose is released in the urine. Fatigue. If your cells are deprived of sugar, you may become tired and irritable. Blurred vision. If your blood sugar is too high, fluid may be pulled from the lenses of your eyes. This may affect your ability to focus. Slow-healing sores o Continue reading >>
