Most Common Symptoms of Diabetes and How to Manage Them

Are you sleepy during the day as frequent urine calls at night make it impossible for you to have a sound sleep? The first thing that comes to our mind is to shift the blame to late-night soup, coffee, or other liquids. But if the problem is prolonged, then it’s time to get some routine lab tests done. 

Diabetes

Diabetes Mellitus is a condition in which a person’s capacity to form or respond to the hormone insulin gets impaired and as a result, there is abnormal metabolism of carbohydrates which increases the blood glucose levels. The cardinal symptoms of the disease are:

• excessive urination during the night
• increased thirst, and
• an enhanced sensation of hunger

If you're looking for the early symptoms of the disease and the management strategies, then read the write-up till the end to clear your doubts about diabetes type 2. 

The burden of diabetes on public health is highest internationally and the scenario is even worst for developing nations like India where the disease has engulfed masses in recent times and is likely to increase shortly. The condition is so grave that it has a negative influence on the mortality and morbidity linked with the disease. 

The most effective strategy to combat Diabetes mellitus is early diagnosis, screening of the complications, giving optimal therapy to the patients, and implementation of primary prevention steps for the individuals who have prediabetes. Early diagnosis helps in the identification of people with prediabetes and implementing lifestyle modifications or therapeutic management will help in the delayed progression of the disease and sometimes it can be prevented altogether. 

10 Most Common Diabetes Symptoms

If you are experiencing any of the below-mentioned symptoms then consult your doctor and check your blood glucose levels. 

1. Excessive urination at night
2. Increased feeling of being thirsty
3. Loss of weight without any known cause
4. The enhanced sensation of hunger
5. Blurred vision
6. Numbness or tingling sensation (Pins and needles feeling) in hands or feet or both.
7. Weakness or fatigue
8. Dryness of skin
9. Delayed healing of sores or wounds
10. Repeated infections

Gestational Diabetes

Pregnant women must be careful as Gestational Diabetes is common and it increases the blood sugar levels during pregnancy. The woman might have never experienced any symptoms of diabetes but can develop the condition during pregnancy. The gynecologist usually performs screening tests during the 24th to 28th week of pregnancy. The symptoms of gestational diabetes are similar to diabetes type 2 like increased thirst, feeling tired, and dry mouth.  

Know more about Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Management of Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes Mellitus can be prevented with the help of diet and lifestyle modifications. The management can be divided into two steps:

• Lifestyle modifications

• Therapeutic Management 

Lifestyle Modification for Diabetes

Diabetes is regarded as a lifestyle disorder and therefore by adopting a healthy way of life blood glucose levels can be maintained within healthy limits. 

1. Mindful eating

The food we eat breaks down to form sugar and therefore individuals having diabetes should be more conscious about their eating habits. You should eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Check your carbohydrates as they are directly converted into sugar and restrict the foods high in fat and sugar content. 

2. Physical activity

it’s time to start your favorite physical activity like walking, cycling, swimming, or playing any sport. The aim is to have at least 30 minutes of moderate activity that makes you sweat and increases your breath rate on most days. The enhanced activity will keep the complications like heart disease at bay and also help you to reduce extra kilos and limit stress levels. 

3. Regular check-ups

You must visit your doctor regularly for follow-ups and it is crucial to monitor cholesterol, blood pressure, and HbA1c levels at fixed intervals. Diabetes increases the risk of eye diseases and hence, the patients should get a full eye examination once a year. Also, be careful about any foot sore, or infection and keep an eye on nerve damage symptoms like pins and needles sensation. 

4. Stress management

To control your blood sugar levels, it is important to manage your stress levels through yoga, meditation, pursuing your hobby or physical activity. Popular Pakistani fast bowler Wasim Akram attributes high-stress levels to the manifestation of diabetes as he has no positive family history and also leads a healthy lifestyle. 

5. Quit smoking

diabetes increases the risk of cardiac disorders manifolds and if you are a regular smoker then the risk is even higher. Plan to quit smoking with the help of your doctor. 

6. Drink alcohol in moderation

According to American Diabetes Association, women who consume alcohol should not have more than 1 drink in a day and men should not have more than 2 drinks/per day. 

Also read: Ways to manage gestational diabetes

Therapeutic management for Diabetes

The primary aim of diabetes management is to control blood glucose levels, prevent or delay complications, reduce mortality rates, and maintain the quality of life. The chronic complications of diabetes can be restricted through controlled blood sugar levels and it also limits the incidence of microvascular complications like neuropathy, nephropathy, and retinopathy. The medicines for diabetes depend on the extent of insulin resistance and whether or not complications of the disease have begun. Therefore, the treatment protocol must be followed as advised by the expert doctor. 

Conclusion

In case you or your close one is recently diagnosed with Diabetes then you should not panic but rather develop a strategy to manage the disease and maintain a healthy lifestyle. The key to success is an early diagnosis which can be achieved by spreading awareness about the disease and its symptoms.

References

1. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. (2014). National guidelines for diagnosis & management of gestational diabetes mellitus. www.ukhfws.org
2. American Diabetes Association Diabetes Care. (2003). Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. www.care.diabetesjournals.org