How long can you be diabetic and not know it?

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.


How long can diabetes go unnoticed?

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. In the early stages of Type 2 diabetes, you experience few to no noticeable signs of the disease.

Can you live with diabetes for years without knowing?

In fact, you can be living with type 2 diabetes for years and not know it. When signs and symptoms are present, they may include: Increased thirst. Frequent urination.


What are the 3 most common symptoms of undiagnosed diabetes?

Common symptoms of diabetes: Urinating often. Feeling very thirsty. Feeling very hungry—even though you are eating.

What does untreated diabetes feel like?

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.


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



What are silent signs of diabetes?

10 Silent Symptoms 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.


What happens if you ignore diabetes?

Left untreated, diabetes can lead to heart disease, stroke, nerve and kidney damage, vision loss and more. Even if you have mild blood sugar elevations, you can damage your organs. Diabetes is a common condition.

What happens if you let your diabetes go untreated?

If left untreated, diabetes can lead to devastating complications, such as heart disease, nerve damage, blindness, kidney failure and amputations. And the risk of death for adults with diabetes is 50 percent higher than for adults without diabetes.


What happens if you live with undiagnosed diabetes?

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.

What does undiagnosed diabetes look like?

The three most common symptoms of undiagnosed diabetes include increased thirst, increased urination, and increased hunger. Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that happens when blood sugar (glucose) is too high (hyperglycemia).

Is it too late if you have diabetes?

Whether you have prediabetes, have just been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes or if your diabetes has been out of control for a long time, it's never too late to stop diabetes in its tracks. "A primary care physician can diagnose and manage diabetes.


Can diabetes come on suddenly?

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes can start quickly, in a matter of weeks. Symptoms of type 2 diabetes often develop slowly—over the course of several years—and can be so mild that you might not even notice them.

What color is urine in diabetes?

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.

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.


How do you feel when you have diabetes?

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.

Can a diabetic go back to normal?

There is no cure for type 2 diabetes. But it may be possible to reverse the condition to a point where you do not need medication to manage it and your body does not suffer ill effects from having blood sugar levels that are too high.

Can you live with untreated 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.


What are 5 common symptoms of a 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.


Is clear pee good?

Is clear urine always a good thing? In most cases, clear urine is a sign that you're well hydrated. And that's a positive thing because good hydration helps your body function at its best. But, in some cases, clear pee may mean that you're drinking too much water and you're too hydrated.

How often do diabetics pee?

Some people may notice they have to get up every couple of hours during the night to urinate and that they produce more urine when they do go. The presence of excess glucose can also cause the urine to have a sweet smell. This is most common in advanced cases of type 2 diabetes, he says.


Is it normal to pee every 2 hours?

Every woman goes on her own schedule, but generally, peeing 6-8 times in 24 hours is considered normal for someone who is healthy, and isn't pregnant. If you're going more often than that, you may be experiencing frequent urination. Frequent urination can happen on its own and isn't always a sign of a health problem.

What is usually the first symptom of diabetes?

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.

What is the first stage of diabetes?

Stage 1. This stage, defined as insulin resistance, is where muscle, fat, and liver cells become resistant to insulin and have trouble bringing glucose into the cell. But the pancreas compensates for this by producing more insulin, which helps keep blood sugar levels within normal range.


What are 10 warning signs of diabetes?

Early signs and symptoms of diabetes
  • Frequent urination. When your blood sugar is high, your kidneys expel the excess blood sugar, causing you to urinate more frequently. ...
  • Increased thirst. ...
  • Fatigue. ...
  • Blurred vision. ...
  • Increased hunger. ...
  • Unexplained weight loss. ...
  • Slow healing cuts and wounds. ...
  • Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet.


How do you detect hidden diabetes?

Physical Symptoms of Hidden Diabetes

Hidden diabetes also has visible symptoms. Especially in the head, neck and nape parts, sudden anger crises in the face of significant sweating and events draw attention among these symptoms. Also, people involved in this process experience much more weight problems than usual.