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

So, yes, you most certainly can have diabetes and not know it. Without treatment, diabetes can increase your risk of developing other health issues, such as kidney disease, peripheral neuropathy, or heart disease. Diabetes is a chronic health condition, but it can be managed.


Is it possible to be diabetic and not know?

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. Make sure to visit your doctor if you have any of them.

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.


What happens if you have unchecked diabetes?

Complications of Diabetes

If type 2 diabetes goes untreated, the high blood sugar can affect various cells and organs in the body. Complications include kidney damage, often leading to dialysis, eye damage, which could result in blindness, or an increased risk for heart disease or stroke.

What are 3 symptoms of undiagnosed 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.


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



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.

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.

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.


How does diabetes make you feel?

The symptoms you experience won't exactly match those of another person. However, the most common diabetes symptoms experienced by many people with diabetes are increased thirst, increased urination, feeling tired and losing weight.

What color is diabetic urine?

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.

What are the first signs of being diabetic?

Diabetes Symptoms
  • Urinating often.
  • Feeling very thirsty.
  • Feeling very hungry—even though you are eating.
  • Extreme fatigue.
  • Blurry vision.
  • Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal.
  • Weight loss—even though you are eating more (type 1)
  • Tingling, pain, or numbness in the hands/feet (type 2)


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.


What are 10 warning signs of diabetes?

Symptoms
  • Feeling more thirsty than usual.
  • Urinating often.
  • Losing weight without trying.
  • Presence of ketones in the urine. ...
  • Feeling tired and weak.
  • Feeling irritable or having other mood changes.
  • Having blurry vision.
  • Having slow-healing sores.


What are the 7 warning signs of diabetes?

  • Excessive Urination. ...
  • Increased Thirst or a Dry Mouth. ...
  • Unexpected Weight Loss. ...
  • You Feel Hungry All The Time. ...
  • Foot Pain and Numbness. ...
  • Frequent Infections and Feminine Health Issues. ...
  • Blurred Vision Could Be a Result of Rapid Blood Sugar Changes.


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.

What hurts if you have diabetes?

Peripheral nerve damage affects your hands, feet, legs, and arms, and it's the most common type of nerve damage for people with diabetes. It generally starts in the feet, usually in both feet at once. Other symptoms may include: Pain or increased sensitivity, especially at night.

Where does it hurt if you have diabetes?

Diabetic neuropathy most often damages nerves in the legs and feet. Depending on the affected nerves, diabetic neuropathy symptoms include pain and numbness in the legs, feet and hands. It can also cause problems with the digestive system, urinary tract, blood vessels and heart. Some people have mild symptoms.


What is end stage diabetes?

What is end-stage diabetes? While “end-stage diabetes” isn't a commonly used term, diabetes can lead to what's known as end-stage diabetic complications, or advanced complications. In people with diabetes, advanced complications, like end-stage renal disease, occur after many years of living with diabetes.

Can diabetes cause sudden death?

Abstract. Diabetes mellitus has long been linked to an increased risk of sudden cardiac death.

What is the longest you can live with diabetes?

Diabetes Life Expectancy

The average life expectancy of a type 2 diabetic patient is between 77 to 81 years. However, it is not uncommon for diabetics to live past the age of 85, should they be able to maintain good blood sugar levels and lengthen their lifespan.


What do diabetic lows feel like?

Symptoms usually occur when blood sugar levels fall below four millimoles (mmol) per litre. Typical early warning signs are feeling hungry, trembling or shakiness, and sweating. In more severe cases, you may also feel confused and have difficulty concentrating.

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).

How do you get rid of prediabetes fast?

Eating a “clean” diet, which consists of healthier choices, can help restore normal blood sugar levels. This can reverse prediabetes and help prevent type 2 diabetes. Incorporate low fat and low calorie foods into your diet.


Can you get rid of being pre diabetic?

Yes, prediabetes can be reversed. The most effective way to reverse prediabetes, or return to normal blood sugar levels, is to focus on exercise, healthy eating, and losing weight. Some medications may also work to stop prediabetes becoming diabetes, but none have been approved by the FDA.

Can prediabetes happen suddenly?

Type 2 diabetes doesn't usually appear all of a sudden. Many people have a long, slow, invisible lead-in to it called prediabetes. During this period, blood sugar levels are higher than normal. However, they're not high enough to cause symptoms or to be classified as diabetes.