How long can you have diabetes without knowing?

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.

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How long can diabetes go undetected?

However, it frequently can go undiagnosed for years unless a physician draws a blood sample to check the blood glucose. In the early stages of Type 2 diabetes, you experience few to no noticeable signs of the disease. As time goes by and the untreated blood glucose continues to rise, symptoms begin.

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Can I have diabetes for years and not know it?

Type 2 diabetes symptoms often take several years to develop. Some people don't notice any symptoms at all. Type 2 diabetes usually starts when you're an adult, though more and more children and teens are developing it. Because symptoms are hard to spot, it's important to know the risk factors for type 2 diabetes.

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Can you be diabetic and not Realise?

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 undiagnosed diabetes feel like?

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.

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Type 1 diabetes: Sam's story

36 related questions found

What is silent diabetes?

“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.

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What can be mistaken for diabetes?

  • Alcoholism.
  • Alzheimer's Disease.
  • Amenorrhea.
  • Amyloidosis.
  • Anorexia Nervosa.
  • Bulimia Nervosa.
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
  • Cirrhosis.

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What does diabetes feel like if untreated?

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.

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What does diabetes feel like in the beginning?

Extreme hunger, unintended weight loss, fatigue and weakness, blurred vision, irritability, and other mood changes. If you or your child are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should talk to your doctor. The best way to determine if you have type 1 diabetes is a blood test.

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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 are the 3 main signs of diabetes?

Here are more details about the signs and symptoms of diabetes:
  • Excessive thirst and increased urination. Excessive thirst and increased urination are common diabetes signs and symptoms. ...
  • Weight loss. ...
  • Blurred vision. ...
  • Slow-healing sores or frequent infections. ...
  • Red, swollen, tender gums.

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What happens if diabetes is left undiagnosed?

The Dangers of Undiagnosed Diabetes

If diabetes is not properly diagnosed and treated to control blood sugar levels, the disease can cause serious damage to your heart and blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, nerves, gastrointestinal tract, and gums and teeth.

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What happens if you are diabetic but don't know?

People with type 2 diabetes often have no symptoms at first. They may not have symptoms for many years. According to Medlineplus.gov, early symptoms of diabetes caused by a high blood sugar level may include: Bladder, kidney, skin, or other infections that are more frequent or heal slowly.

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Do you gain weight with undiagnosed diabetes?

The short answer is yes, gaining weight with diabetes is possible. People with diabetes indeed often struggle with weight gain due to medications plus a sedentary lifestyle. Lack of exercise can contribute to weight gain, which results in higher blood glucose and unhealthy cholesterol levels.

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Can diabetes show up suddenly?

Type 1 diabetes symptoms can develop quickly, within a few weeks or months . It's generally diagnosed in children and young adults, although it can occur at any age. It's most commonly diagnosed in children 4 to 6 and 10 to 14 years of age.

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Do you feel weird if you have diabetes?

Irritability. Frequently feeling irritated or having changes in your mood is another sign of undiagnosed diabetes. This is because unmanaged diabetes can trigger rapid shifts in blood sugar. You blood sugar levels can contribute to rapid shifts in mood, so levels below or above normal range can impact how you feel.

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Where does it hurt if you have diabetes?

Nerve damage can affect your hands, feet, legs, and arms. High blood sugar can lead to nerve damage called diabetic neuropathy. You can prevent it or slow its progress by keeping your blood sugar as close to your target range as possible and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

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What Colour is diabetic urine?

A water deprivation test involves not drinking any liquid for several hours to see how your body responds. 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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Does diabetes affect your sleep?

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov with type 2 diabetes have sleep problems due to unstable blood sugar levels and accompanying diabetes-related symptoms, High blood sugar (hyperglycemia) and low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) during the night can lead to insomnia and next-day fatigue.

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What are the signs of diabetes in a woman?

Symptoms of diabetes

increased thirst and hunger. frequent urination. weight loss or weight gain with no obvious cause. fatigue.

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What diseases are linked to diabetes?

Diabetes is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke and lower limb amputation. Between 2000 and 2019, there was a 3% increase in diabetes mortality rates by age. In 2019, diabetes and kidney disease due to diabetes caused an estimated 2 million deaths.

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What does diabetes look like on feet?

Dry, cracked skin on your feet. A change in the color and temperature of your feet. Thickened, yellow toenails. Fungus infections such as athlete's foot between your toes.

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Can diabetics be silent and not know?

The early signs of type 2 diabetes are often subtle or not there at all. High blood sugar (glucose) level, which primarily affects people with type 2 diabetes, can sneak up on you that way. You may not experience any symptoms until your blood sugar levels get too high and you find you have type 2 diabetes.

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Can you get diabetes late in life?

The risk of developing diabetes increases with age. The CDC report that 4.0 percent of people aged 18 to 44 years are living with diabetes, 17 percent of those aged 45 to 64 years, and 25.2 percent of those aged over 65 years.

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What does sugar in urine look like?

The excess sugar can make it appear cloudy or even smell sweet or fruity. For some people, this is the first sign of diabetes. If you suddenly notice cloudy urine that smells sweet, see a doctor right away.

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