More than 37 million people in the United States have diabetes, with 90–95% having type 2 diabetes. The onset of type 2 diabetes can be gradual, and symptoms can be mild during the early stages. As a result, many people may not realize that they have this condition.
Prediabetes means you have a higher than normal blood sugar level. It's not high enough to be considered type 2 diabetes yet. But without lifestyle changes, adults and children with prediabetes are at high risk to develop type 2 diabetes.
Symptoms of Type 1 diabetes typically start mild and get progressively worse or more intense, which could happen over several days, weeks or months. This is because your pancreas makes less and less insulin.
MODY 2 seems to be the mildest form of the disease. It often causes only mild high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). It also affects how the body responds to blood sugar. The other forms of MODY may need treatment with insulin, much like type 1 diabetes.
But yes, it may be possible to put your type 2 diabetes into remission. This is when your blood sugar levels are below the diabetes range and you don't need to take diabetes medication anymore. This could be life-changing.
It's caused by problems with a chemical in the body (hormone) called insulin. It's often linked to being overweight or inactive, or having a family history of type 2 diabetes.
However, in the early stages of undiagnosed diabetes, excess sugar in the bloodstream may damage sensitive vessels in the eyes, causing blurred vision. Numbness in extremities. Also known as neuropathy, tingling sensations in the hands and feet can be early warning signs for diabetes.
Once the symptoms appear, a blood test generally will reveal very high blood glucose. Type 2 diabetes can be detected easily during a routine screening exam and blood test. However, it frequently can go undiagnosed for years unless a physician draws a blood sample to check the blood glucose.
To test for prediabetes, your healthcare provider will use a blood test. You may have: Fasting plasma glucose test, which tests your blood after you have fasted for eight hours (had nothing to eat or drink except water). A1C test, which provides your average blood glucose level over the past two to three months.
Three of the earliest signs of diabetes you may notice include frequent urination, increased thirst, and unexplained hunger. As your body tries to deal with increasing blood glucose levels, your kidneys need to work harder to filter out the glucose, meaning you will need to pee more often.
Symptoms include sexual problems, digestive issues (a condition called gastroparesis), trouble sensing when your bladder is full, dizziness and fainting, or not knowing when your blood sugar is low.
Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test
A normal fasting glucose test result is lower than 100 mg/dL. A result of 100 to 125 mg/dL indicates prediabetes, and one that's 126 mg/dL or above indicates diabetes. If your result is 126 mg/dL or above, you'll have the test again on a different day to confirm the diagnosis.
In general: Less than 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L ) is normal. 140 to 199 mg/dL (7.8 to 11.0 mmol/L ) is consistent with prediabetes. 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L ) or higher after two hours suggests diabetes.
Prediabetes Is a Big Deal
Prediabetes is a serious health condition. People with prediabetes have higher blood sugar than normal, but not high enough yet for a diabetes diagnosis. Prediabetes puts you at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
In people with type 1 diabetes, the onset of symptoms can be very sudden, while in type 2 diabetes, they tend to come about more gradually, and sometimes there are no signs at all.
Dark urine is deeper in color than urine that is usually straw to yellow in color. Darker urine can be different colors, but is usually brown, deep yellow, or maroon.
“Diabetes starts as a silent disease, advancing painlessly, almost imperceptibly,” says Dr. Ferrer, who sees 25 to 30 diabetic patients per week. “It mainly attacks the small blood vessels, damaging the kidneys, eyes, and nerves.” It can also affect larger blood vessels.
Type 1 diabetes can develop quickly over weeks or even days. Many people have type 2 diabetes for years without realising because the early symptoms tend to be general.
Signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes often develop slowly. In fact, you can be living with type 2 diabetes for years and not know it.
Making positive lifestyle changes such as eating a well-balanced diet, exercising regularly and getting down to a healthy weight (and maintaining it) are the key to possibly reversing or managing type 2 diabetes.