Diabetes Symptoms
Who has diabetes and doesn't know it?
...Over 84 million Americans (CDC 2011).
Risks when untreated:
- Blindness (retinopathy)
- Amputation
- Kidney failure
- Heart disease & stroke
Identify Diabetes Symptoms:
- Frequent urination
- Unusual thirst
- Extreme hunger
- Unusual weight loss
- Extreme tiredness & irritability
- Frequent infection
- Blurry vision
- Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal
- Tingling/numb hands or feet
- Repeated skin, gum, or bladder infections
Beware Type II Risks:
- 57 years or older (ADA Risk Test 2011)
- Overweight (evaluated by Dr. or Nurse)
- Parent/brother/sister with diabetes.
- Family background
- African American
- Hispanic/Latino
- Asian American
- Alaska Native
- American Indian
- Pacific Islander
- Exercise less than 90 min. per week
- Dark, velvety rash around neck or armpits
- High blood pressure (140/90 mm Hg or above)
- Cholesterol levels outside normal.
- HDL cholesterol below 35 mg/dL
- Triglyceride level over 250 mg/dL)
- Previously tested positive for:
- Impaired fasting glucose (IFG)
- Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT)
- History of cardiovascular disease.
- A woman with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Pregnancy:
- Had gestational diabetes
- Gave birth to at least one baby weighing over 9 pounds.
Pregnant With Diabetes? (Gestational diabetes)
Add these to the above...
- Frequent infections, especially of the bladder, vagina, & skin
- Nausea & vomiting
- Weight loss, despite increased appetite
- Older than 25 when pregnant
- Unexplained miscarriage or newborn death
Women are usually screened for diabetes within 24-28 weeks of pregnancy. Blood sugar level often returns to normal after delivery.