How Can You Tell If You Are Diabetic

November 29, 2021

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Itching And Yeast Infections

How to Determine If You’re Pre-Diabetic

Excess sugar in the blood and urine provides food for yeast, which can lead to infection. Yeast infections tend to occur on warm, moist areas of the skin, such as the mouth, genital areas, and armpits.

The affected areas are usually itchy, but a person may also experience burning, redness, and soreness.

Generally When People Think About Diabetic Approximately 60 Percent Of People Who Have Been Diagnosed With Diabetes Suffer From Diabe

It results from a lack of, or insufficiency of, the hormone insulin which is produced by the pancreas. The treatment uses a person’s skin cells to generate new cells to alleviate a troublesome problem for people with d. Do you or someone you know suffer from diabetes? Neuropathy or peripheral neuropathy is a condition in which the peripheral nerves sustain damage and cause pain, numbness and tingling among other symptoms. If you have diabetes, your blood glucose, or blood sugar, levels are too high. Try our symptom checker got any other symptoms? Diabetic neuropathy is a common complication of both type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Generally, when people think about diabetic approximately 60 percent of people who have been diagnosed with diabetes suffer from diabe. High blood sugar can injure nerves throughout your body. Unfortunately, up to 42 percent of american adults admit. Let’s be honest, there are few things that feel as luxurious as a good foot massage. Featured conditions diabetic neuropathy is a type of nerve damage that can occur if you have diabetes. The treatment uses a patient’s skin cells to generate new cells to alleviate a troublesome problem for people with diabetes.

There is a separate article on diabetic foot. It can be a debilitating and devastating disease, but knowledge is incredible medi. Know how to care for diabetic feet.

Controlled Means Different Things To Different People

Theres no one-size-fits-all recommendation for blood sugar control.

The ADA says that a reasonable goal for many nonpregnant adults is to aim for an A1C level of less than 7. Yet some patients may be given a more stringent goal by their healthcare providers, such as 6.5, if thats reachable without harmful side effects, including hypoglycemia.

On the other hand, if you are elderly, managing other health complications, or reliant on insulin, you may be given less stringent goals. It really becomes more important to just keep in the same place, says Rahil Bandukwala, DO, an endocrinologist at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, California. Keeping A1C between 7.5 and 8.5 may be very reasonable for such a patient, Dr. Bandukwala adds, echoing the ADAs recommendations.

Because elderly people are more likely to have blood sugar that swings too far downward, with fewer warning signs, managing their glucose too tightly can put them at greater risk for hypoglycemia, says Bandukwala. When you have low blood sugar, youre at a higher risk for becoming dizzy and falling or passing out, notes the ADA.

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Symptoms Of Type 1 Diabetes Onset In Adults

When an adult is diagnosed with diabetes, they are often mistakenly told that they have type 2 diabetes. This is because there may be a lack of understanding by some doctors that type 1 diabetes can start at any age, and in people of every race, shape and size. People with type 1 diabetes who have elevated blood glucose and classic risk factors for type 2 diabetes, such as being overweight or physically inactive, are often misdiagnosed. It can also be tricky because some adults with new-onset type 1 diabetes are not sick at first. Their doctor finds an elevated blood sugar level at a routine visit and starts them on diet, exercise and an oral medication.

Home Test To Check If You Have Diabetes

Written byBel Marra HealthPublished onOctober 22, 2015

Testing blood sugar at home can be an effective way to treat and monitor your diabetes. Diabetes is one of the top 10 causes of death in North America. About 29.1 million people in the U.S. have diabetes 8.1 million cases are undiagnosed.

Suspecting that you or a loved one might have diabetes can be scary. It is a condition that causes sweeping changes to a persons lifestyle. In most cases, because the early signs of diabetes are not known, being diagnosed comes as a shock. However, there are affordable tests that can be done at home to help diagnose diabetes in its early stages.

But before you embark on home testing, its important to recognize the symptoms that can help you determine if home testing is necessary. Major symptoms of type 2 diabetes include:

Excessive thirst
Sores and cuts that wont heal

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What Should I Tell The Health Care Team

If you need to see a doctor or get medical care, health care professionals may ask about:

your symptoms, like whether you’ve been throwing up or feeling more tired than usual
your blood glucose levels
any prescription medications you’re taking and the phone number of your pharmacy
any foods and drinks you’ve had
whether you’ve had any drugs or alcohol

If you have time, it can help to write down this info before you visit the doctor.

Yellow Reddish Or Brown Patches On Your Skin

Necrobiosis Lipoidica

This skin condition often begins as small raised solid bumps that look like pimples. As it progresses, these bumps turn into patches of swollen and hard skin. The patches can be yellow, reddish, or brown.

You may also notice:

The surrounding skin has a shiny porcelain-like appearance
You can see blood vessels
The skin is itchy and painful
The skin disease goes through cycles where it is active, inactive, and then active again

necrobiosis lipodica.

Take action

Get tested for diabetes, if you have not been diagnosed.
Work with your doctor to better control your diabetes.
See a dermatologist about your skin. Necorbiosis lipodica is harmless, but it can lead to complications.

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Signs That May Indicate You Are At Risk For Diabetes

**This article is a repost of an earlier written article. We are reposting because we believe the information is valuable and pertinent to many.**

According to the CDC, over 9% of Americans are living with diabetes. This illness is becoming increasingly common, with 1.5 million Americans being diagnosed with diabetes every year.

There are some serious complications that can come with having high blood sugar such as heart failure and stroke. However, diabetes can be managed with prescription medication, diet, and exercise to help you live a normal, healthy life.

What Are The Symptoms Of Diabetes

Diabetes Tips : How to Tell If You Have Diabetes

T1D is identified in children and adults as they show signs of the following symptoms:

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. Thats why its 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 youre 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 isnt 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.

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Why Is The Color Of My Urine Telling Me

Orange urine

When an excess amount of B vitamins is removed from the blood, and excreted through urine, the resultant urine is a light orange in color. Medications, such as Rifampin and Phenazopyridine can change the color of urine, and make it turn orange. Liver or bile duct problems can also cause orange urine.

Dark brown, or amber urine

When blood gets in the urine, its termed, hematuria. This can be a sign of many different medical problems, and should be evaluated by your provider. Dark brown urine can indicate rhabdomyolysis, Gilberts Syndrome, or jaundice from liver problems.

Black or dark brown urine

If a person notices black or very dark colored urine, this is called, melanuria. This can be caused by a condition called, acute intermittent porphyria, or from a skin cancer called melanoma.

Pink or red urine

When eating certain foods, it can change the color of your urine. Beets and carrots, blackberries and rhubarbs, for example, can turn urine pink or reddish. Asparagus and foods with green food dyes may give urine a green color. It could be that your urine is pink or reddish due to blood in your urine, so unless you are sure the color is a result of the food you atge, see your doctor. If there is blood in your urine, it can be from kidney problems, a urinary tract infection, prostate problems, or even from cancer .

Blue/green urine

Purple urine

White urine, milky

Back Upremind Me What Diabetes Is Again

Diabetes isn’t just one disease. There are actually three types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Most people with diabetes have type 2it happens when your body doesn’t use insulin well and is unable to keep your blood sugar stable, per the CDC.

Type 1 diabetes is much less commononly about 5 percent of those with diabetes have type 1and it’s essentially an autoimmune disease where your body stops making insulin at all .

And gestational diabetes occurs in pregnant womenit usually goes away after you give birth, but it can increase your likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes later on, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases .

All three types of diabetes can easily be detected though a blood test. The test, essentially, checks to see if your blood glucose is too high. But be warned: You can’t diagnose yourselfnot even with an OTC blood glucose meter, per the NIDDK.

Unfortunately, many people are walking around with undiagnosed diabetes or prediabetes because the symptoms are super-subtle, says Poorani Goundan, M.D., an endocrinologist at Boston Medical Center.

These sneaky diabetes symptoms might indicate that it’s time to head into your doctor’s office for a test.

How To Tell If You Or Your Child Has Type 1 Diabetes

With Ilana Halperin MD and Elena Christofides MD

Type 1 diabetes is a permanent condition. That means youll likely have to deal with symptoms at least a few times in your life, no matter how diligently you monitor your blood sugar. Were here to empower you with clear answers to all your pressing Qs.

Questions To Ask Your Doctor

How can you tell if you have diabetes? Early signs

How did I get diabetes?
If I have diabetes, will my children develop it, too?
Will I need to take insulin?
If I dont have a family history of diabetes, can I still get it?
Can your diabetes get worse even if you do everything right?
Can I prevent gestational diabetes?
If I had gestational diabetes while pregnant, will I get type 2 diabetes later?
Will the babies of a mom with gestational diabetes develop diabetes?
How can I tell the difference between Charcot foot and gout in my foot?

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Ask Your Doctor How Often You Should Be Checking Your Blood Sugar

Blood sugar control is crucial when youre living with type 2 diabetes. Dips and spikes can not only make you feel cranky and sluggish, but they can also wreak havoc on your personal health.

The most serious effects of blood sugar swings are a higher risk for diabetes-related health complications such as stroke, heart disease, and nerve damage .

For the record, the American Diabetes Association notes that you have diabetes if one of the following applies to you:

Your blood glucose after fasting is 126 milligrams per deciliter or higher.
Your blood glucose two hours after eating a meal is 200 mg/dl or higher.
Your hemoglobin A1C is 6.5 or higher.

The tricky part is that with type 2 diabetes you may not feel it when blood sugar levels are too high, according to the ADA. It feels different for everyone. Not everyone will have the same symptoms, and some individuals will have no symptoms at all, says Lori Zanini, RD, CDE, a Los Angelesbased former spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Because blood sugar management is so important to your overall health with type 2 diabetes, you need to take action if you think your levels may be out of control, even if youre feeling totally fine.

You Never Stop Drinking Water

With all that peeing, dehydration is a very real possibility. And, to make matters worse, some patients who dont know they have diabetes quench their thirst with sugary drinks like soda or juice, which adds to their blood sugars, Goundan says. Signs of dehydration include dark-colored urine, a drop in weight, and extreme thirst.

Sound familiar? Talk to your doc about this potential symptom of diabetes, especially if it occurs in tandem with lots of bathroom breaks.

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At Home Diabetic Test: A1c Kits

Another method to test for diabetes at home is the At Home A1C kit. These kits test the hemoglobin A1C and give a three-month average of your blood sugar. A normal A1C should be under 5.7%. When purchasing an at-home A1C kit, make sure that it offers results within five minutes. Some of the at-home kits require sending a blood sample to a lab and waiting for three to six weeks for the results.

If any of the tests above show presence of glucose or a high sugar level that falls in the diabetic range, it is time to consult a doctor. But if your test results show you are negative for diabetes or if you have pre-diabetes, you can take steps to reduce your risk of the disease by:

Losing weight. Research shows that reducing your body weight by five to 10 percent 10 to 20 pounds for someone who weighs 200 pounds can cut your risk of type 2 diabetes in half.
Eating right. Your diet should be rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low-fat dairy and lean protein sources. Limit foods high in saturated and trans-fats, cholesterol, sodium and added sugars.
Exercising regularly. Work up to at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week. Always check with your doctor before you increase your activity.

What Are Early Signs Of Diabetes

Diabetes Symptoms & Treatments : How to Know If You Have Diabetes

Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can generate different physical symptoms. However, those afflicted with either type may experience these common occurrences:

Be on the lookout for any of these symptoms of type 1 or 2 diabetes and dont hesitate to consult with a healthcare professional. When left unattended, certain symptoms of diabetes can cause lifelong issues, even when type 1 or type 2 diabetes gets under control.

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Can Diabetes Be Prevented Or Avoided

Talk to your doctor about your risk factors for diabetes. Although you may not be able to change all of them, you can make changes to significantly lower your risk.

Exercise and weight control. Exercising and maintaining a healthy weight can reduce your risk of diabetes. Any amount of activity is better than none. Try to exercise for 30 to 60 minutes most days of the week. Always talk with your doctor before starting an exercise program.
Diet. A diet high in fat, calories, and cholesterol increases your risk of diabetes. A poor diet can lead to obesity and other health problems. A healthy diet is high in fiber and low in fat, cholesterol, salt, and sugar. Also, remember to watch your portion size. How much you eat is just as important as what you eat.

Your Vision Seems Blurry

Dont be alarmed: This is not diabetic retinopathy, where the blood vessels in the back of the eye are getting destroyed, says Dr. Cypess. In the early stages of diabetes, the eye lens is not focusing well because glucose builds up in the eye, which temporarily changes its shape. Youre not going blind from diabetes, Dr. Cypess says he assures patients. In about six to eight weeks after your blood sugars are stabilized, youre not going to feel it anymore the eye will adjust.

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What To Do If You’re Sick Or Injured

If you’re ill, especially if the illness causes fever, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, or if your ability to eat or drink has been affected, call your doctor.

You should also let your doctor or diabetes health care team know if you:

have had a significant injury
are going to be having surgery
have been prescribed new medications for another health problem

If you think a situation is an emergency, tell someone to call 911 or help you get to the emergency department. If you are alone, don’t hesitate to call your doctor or 911.