Can someone live with diabetes and not know?

Often called a "silent disease," diabetes can develop in people without initially producing symptoms. If not properly managed, diabetes can lead to serious complications, including heart, kidney, vision, and circulatory problems that can lead to permanent disability or even premature death.

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How long can you live with diabetes without knowing?

Many people have type 2 diabetes for years without realising because the early symptoms tend to be general, or there are no symptoms at all.

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Can you survive with undiagnosed diabetes?

Untreated diabetes can lead to long-term complications or even death. In people with type 2 diabetes, these complications can include heart disease, kidney damage, peripheral neuropathy (nerve pain), or vision loss. Sometimes, diabetes goes untreated because it hasn't been diagnosed.

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What happens if you don't realise you have diabetes?

If diabetes isn't treated, it can lead to a number of other health problems. High glucose levels can damage blood vessels, nerves and organs. Even a mildly raised glucose level that doesn't cause any symptoms can have long-term damaging effects.

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What are the 3 most common symptoms of undiagnosed diabetes?

Feeling very thirsty. Feeling very hungry—even though you are eating. Extreme fatigue. Blurry vision.

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What It's Like to Have Type 1 Diabetes | UC San Diego Health

45 related questions found

Do you feel ill with undiagnosed diabetes?

Many people have type 2 diabetes without realising. This is because symptoms do not necessarily make you feel unwell. Symptoms of type 2 diabetes include: peeing more than usual, particularly at night.

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What does untreated diabetes look like?

Symptoms of uncontrolled diabetes include extreme fatigue, frequent urination, excessive thirst or hunger, unintended weight loss, and blurred vision.

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How long can you live with type 2 diabetes without treatment?

The average life expectancy of a type 2 diabetic patient is between 77 to 81 years. However, it is not uncommon for diabetics to live past the age of 85, should they be able to maintain good blood sugar levels and lengthen their lifespan.

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How do I know I am pre diabetic?

Symptoms
  • Increased thirst.
  • Frequent urination.
  • Increased hunger.
  • Fatigue.
  • Blurred vision.
  • Numbness or tingling in the feet or hands.
  • Frequent infections.
  • Slow-healing sores.

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What does diabetes fatigue feel like?

Many people with diabetes will describe themselves as feeling tired, lethargic or fatigued at times. It could be a result of stress, hard work or a lack of a decent night's sleep but it could also be related to having too high or too low blood glucose levels.

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What happens if diabetes goes untreated for years?

Over time, high blood glucose levels can damage the body's organs. Possible long-term effects include damage to large (macrovascular) and small (microvascular) blood vessels, which can lead to heart attack, stroke, and problems with the kidneys, eyes, gums, feet and nerves.

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How do I know if I'm diabetic?

The best way to determine if you have type 1 diabetes is a blood test. There are different methods such as an A1C test, a random blood sugar test, or a fasting blood sugar test. They are all effective and your doctor can help determine what's appropriate for you.

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Is untreated diabetes fatal?

When diabetes is well managed, patients can live long and healthy lives. However, untreated diabetes can lead to high blood sugar and diabetic ketoacidosis, a serious condition that can be deadly. Some symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis include: Feeling thirsty.

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What is the lifespan of a diabetic person?

Amongst those who are currently 65 years old, the average man can expect to live until 83 years old and the average woman to live until 85 years old. People with type 1 diabetes have traditionally lived shorter lives, with life expectancy having been quoted as being reduced by over 20 years.

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What are 10 warning signs of diabetes?

Here are 10 subtle signs of diabetes:
  • Frequent urination. Most people urinate four to seven times in a day. ...
  • Excessive thirst. ...
  • Extreme hunger. ...
  • Weakness/fatigue. ...
  • Pins and needles. ...
  • Blurry vision. ...
  • Itchy skin. ...
  • Slow healing wounds and increased skin infections.

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Is 5.8 blood sugar normal?

For most people without diabetes, normal blood sugar levels are: between 4 and to 6 mmol/L before meals. less than 8 mmol/L two hours after eating.

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Is 6.1 blood sugar high?

In general: Less than 100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L ) is normal. 100 to 125 mg/dL (5.6 to 6.9 mmol/L ) is diagnosed as prediabetes. 126 mg/dL (7.0 mmol/L ) or higher on two separate tests is diagnosed as diabetes.

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What is the number one cause of death among people with diabetes?

Indeed, myocardial infarction is the leading cause of death among individuals with diabetes mellitus.

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Can you live 30 years with diabetes?

Some people have even lived with diabetes for seven and eight decades! It's important to know the risks of having a lifelong illness, but to not lose hope.

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Can you live a full life with diabetes?

People With Diabetes Can Live Longer by Meeting Their Treatment Goals. Life expectancy can be increased by 3 years or in some cases as much as 10 years.

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Can diabetics drink alcohol?

Diabetics clearly should avoid heavy drinking (i.e., more than 10 to 12 drinks per day), because it can cause ketoacidosis and hypertriglyceridemia. Moreover, heavy drinking in a fasting state can cause hypoglycemia and ultimately increase diabetics' risk of death from noncardiovascular causes.

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What are 5 signs your blood sugar is too high?

Symptoms of hyperglycaemia
  • increased thirst and a dry mouth.
  • needing to pee frequently.
  • tiredness.
  • blurred vision.
  • unintentional weight loss.
  • recurrent infections, such as thrush, bladder infections (cystitis) and skin infections.

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What does diabetes feel like in the beginning?

Blurry vision, increased urination, feeling hungry, extreme thirst, and finding that you have itchy, dry skin are all warning signs that you could be in the early stages of type 2 diabetes. Some other signs may be harder to pin down.

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What does diabetic urine look like?

If you have diabetes insipidus, you'll continue to pee large amounts of watery (dilute), light-colored urine when normally you'd only pee a small amount of concentrated, dark yellow urine.

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