Type 2 diabetes mellitus is an asymptomatic disease during the initial phases until very advanced stages. The only possible way to detect it early is by determining glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C) or insulin resistance in an analysis (HOMA index), as indicated by the online blood analysis platform Melio.es .
Diabetes is a metabolic disease characterized by high blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia) that affects millions of people worldwide and whose prevalence has been increasing in recent years. There are different types of diabetes, including type 2 diabetes is the most prevalent and represents 85-90% of cases. When the disease is established, symptoms may appear that require alertness.
Fortunately, type 2 diabetes, if detected early in its early stages (insulin resistance and prediabetes) It is reversible in many cases without the need for medication. if necessary changes in diet and lifestyle are made. When it is established, these same modifications allow better regulation of glucose levels, avoiding most of the complications due to uncontrolled diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is the most prevalent and accounts for 85-90% of cases.
The scientific team of highlights these six little known symptoms of diabetes that can put you on alert and allow you to detect the disease early:
– Pruritus or itching
The presence of blood sugar levels above the recommended values can cause skin irritation and itchingwhich is also known as pruritus. Possible reasons for this to occur include bacterial or fungal infection, dry skin, or poor circulation, which reduces the body’s ability to fight infection.
In more serious cases of poorly controlled and longstanding diabetes, it may appear itchy hands, arms, legs and feet by affectation of the small terminal nerves that reach these areas (peripheral neuropathy).
– Repeated bacterial and fungal infections
Diabetic patients often have immunological alterations that make them more vulnerable to bacterial and fungal infections. Among the most affected areas are the urinary tract, the genital areas (especially in women, causing what is known as vulvitis and diabetic vulvovaginitis), the skin or the oral cavity.
The bacterial skin infections can cause styes (infections of the eyelid glands); boils (pus-filled bumps under the skin); folliculitis (infection of the hair follicles) and infections around the nails
On the other hand, the fungal infection (originated by fungi) most common in diabetic patients is that produced by species of Candida (Candida infection can also occur in men, where the most affected area is located under the foreskin). This is especially frequent in poorly controlled diabetic women who present high levels of sugar in the blood (hyperglycemia), in vaginal secretions and in the urine (glycosuria). As a consequence, it is common for rashes surrounded by small blisters and scales, which cause itchy, reddish, moist areas. The problematic and most affected areas are under the breasts, around the nails, between the fingers, in the corners of the mouth and in the genital area.
– Scalp Conditions
The seborrheic dermatitis or dandruff It is a common skin disease that affects areas rich in sebaceous glands such as the scalp, face and chest. It appears in the form of white or yellow skin flakes (dandruff) and with a greasy appearance.
Several causal factors have been identified for the development of this condition, highlighting the infection by a fungus called Pityrosporum ovale. This fungus is part of the microbiota of the scalp, but it can grow excessively, generating an infection when there is a drop in defenses, as is usually the case in diabetic patients with alterations in the immune system, or after severe seborrhea that alters the microecosystem of the hair zone.
– nocturnal snoring
There are studies that associate snoring with the presence of altered glucose values. More than a symptom, it is believed that the relationship may be inverse: snoring increases the risk of diabetes.
The reason is that snoring is produced by the relaxation of the airway muscles during sleep, which prevents the passage of air from the mouth to the lungs, decreasing the concentration of oxygen in the blood (obstructive sleep apnea).
This decrease in oxygen levels can alter glucose metabolism and induces the release of molecules called proinflammatory cytokines that seem to be correlated with insulin resistance and where very high levels carry a greater risk of suffering from diabetes.
– skin conditions
The acanthosis nigricans is a skin condition that is present in up to 74% of obese adult patients and is associated with hyperinsulinemia (insulin resistance induces elevated production of this hormone as a compensation mechanism).
Velvety in appearance, it comes in the form of tan or brown-looking spots on the sides of the neck, armpits and groin. Sometimes they also appear on the hands, elbows and knees.
In addition, there are many other skin conditions related to uncontrolled diabetes, such as eruptive xanthoma (outbreaks of yellow papules on the buttocks, elbows and knees) or the facial rubeosis, characterized by facial redness that appears in 3-5% of patients with diabetes. These skin conditions, however, usually disappear when diabetes control is restored.
– Vision problems
The It is a complication of diabetes and one of theThe main causes of blindness. It occurs when diabetes damages the small blood vessels in the retina, which is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. Diabetes causes small blood vessels to become clogged, which causes them to become blocked and other new vessels are created that have very fragile walls and that can rupture in advanced stages of the disease.
this condition appears in patients with long-term or poorly controlled diabetes. The initial stages of retinopathy can be asymptomatic, but as the disease progresses it can cause severe vision loss and even blindness.