Prediabetes in itself is a major sign of approaching diabetes, and thus, should not be taken lightly. In this article, we will put forth the most prominent symptoms of prediabetes to help you ensure that you keep the larger evil at bay.
Studies by the American Diabetes Association reveal that approximately 54 million individuals in the United States are suffering from prediabetes. This is definitely something that we need to be concerned about, considering that those who demonstrate prediabetes symptoms today, are at a high risk of contracting diabetes within the next 10 years.
Prediabetes, also referred to as ‘impaired glucose tolerance’, is a health condition characterized by blood sugar levels higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Resistance to insulin and obesity are among the most prominent causes of prediabetes. Although this health condition is observed in all individuals who suffer from diabetes, it is more common with people who suffer from type 2 diabetes.
The symptoms commonly observed in people suffering from prediabetes range from constant hunger to frequent urge to urinate. Most of these symptoms are quite similar to that of actual diabetes, but less severe. However, they are known to worsen with time, and hence, ignoring them can lead to severe complications.
✦ The individual will feel hungry and thirsty now and then, as the cells are not able to process food properly.
✦ He will experience sudden weight loss or weight gain due to the faulty body mechanism triggered by unhealthy blood sugar levels.
✦ He may experience frequent urge to urinate, as the body will try to flush out excess glucose from within.
✦ He may also demonstrate some flu-like symptoms, accompanied by fatigue and weakness.
✦ As the food consumed is not properly utilized by the body, his immunity levels will be affected and that, in turn, will make him vulnerable to various infectious diseases.
✦ He may also experience blurred vision, as the spike in blood glucose levels will remove water from eye lenses and deform them.
✦ As the body’s capacity to produce energy depreciates, the individual will start feeling ill or exhausted.
✦ The body’s healing mechanism will be impaired, as a result of which even simple cuts and bruises will take forever to recover.
Every individual experiences these symptoms of prediabetes just before the onset of diabetes. It’s also worth noting that these symptoms are accompanied by disorders like high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
If any of these symptoms are observed, one should promptly opt for a diagnosis. The diagnosis of prediabetes includes two blood tests …
»Fasting plasma glucose (abbr. FPG)
»Oral glucose tolerance test (abbr. OGTT)
People who are inactive, aged, obese, having a family history of type 2 diabetes, women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), etc., are at a high risk of prediabetes.
There exist some simple, yet effective measures by which a pre-diabetic can maintain healthy blood sugar levels and keep diabetes at bay. These include eating healthy food, exercising on a regular basis, avoiding smoking and alcohol, etc. At the same time, if the individual is suffering from high blood pressure or high cholesterol, he should attend to them at the earliest, so as to rule out further complications.
Disclaimer: This article is purely for the purpose of providing information and should not be used as a substitute for medical advice.
