The Gentle Signs Of Diabetes
It is generally estimated that there are some 2 million people in the UK alone who are unaware that they suffer from diabetes.
Why is that important?
One could be forgiven for thinking that if you’re not actually feeling unwell, then any latent disease is not that important, because if it was, you would notice.
No.
The trouble with diabetes is that, like some other serious health issues, the initial symptoms can go unnoticed, which makes it worse later on.
With no cure, early diagnosis helps minimise type 2 diabetes’s intrusion into ones life as the amount and type of medication will be less and easier to manage.
That’s why it’s harder for people who are unaware that they are type 2 diabetic.
So how can you tell?
In my case I left it late. This is because I have always enjoyed excellent health and have hardly ever been to the doctor. Like many people, and I think men are perhaps worse than women about this, not going to the doctor is a macho thing, a matter of pride – “don’t worry that I’ve lost a leg – I’ve still got another one” type mentality.
In my case, I 47 years old, working in a physical job and just assumed that ever increasing tiredness was just a sign of age. I could sleep anywhere for just 15 minutes, then wake up completely refreshed.
Together with my sleeping, my eyesight became slightly blurred, and I was irritable – again i though i was just turning into a grumpy old man!
You see?
Those traits that I considered to be a natural result of getting older were in fact the signs of type 2 diabetes.
On top of all this, I started to get thirsty. Very thirsty. 5 gallons of water a day thirsty!
The most frightening thing was waking up one morning and although not blind, I could see colours, everything was just an indeterminate blur. I was driven to my doctor, and after the usual tests was declared type 2 diabetic.
The only good thing is that, contrary to popular belief, I can lead a pretty normal life, but had I gone to the doctor sooner, it may have been that I could have avoided having to inject myself with insulin twice a day, and just been treated with diet and tablets.
Having been at the edge himself, Bob takes a close interest in bankruptcy situations and gives advice and information on his website at http://www.declaringyourselfbankrupt.net on declaring yourself bankruptand ways to avoid it.
categories: Diabetes,type 2 diabetes,Disease,Illness,Health