If diabetes is not diagnosed and treated, a person may experience serious health complications, including an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, nerve damage, kidney failure, vision problems, and amputations.
Additionally, people with diabetes may experience feelings of fatigue, irritability, weakness, thirst, and blurry vision, as well as frequent urination, and these symptoms will become increasingly severe without treatment.
Long-term effects of diabetes can include skin problems, such as slow healing of cuts and bruises, frequent fungal and bacterial infections, itching and dryness, and vision problems, such as floaters or blurred vision.
Without adequate treatment, diabetes can lead to serious complications, including long-term disability or death. Many people with undiagnosed diabetes develop serious health problems, including kidney failure and heart disease, which can result in premature death.
Can you live with diabetes without being diagnosed?
Yes, it is possible to live with diabetes without being diagnosed. Untreated diabetes is sometimes referred to as “silent diabetes” because the symptoms are often vague or mild enough to be ignored, or attributed to something else.
While it is possible to live with diabetes without a diagnosis, this is not recommended. Undiagnosed diabetes can cause serious health issues including weight loss, fatigue, excessive urination, extreme thirst, and slow healing of cuts and wounds.
It can also damage nerves and blood vessels, leading to additional complications. Unfortunately, if left untreated, diabetes can eventually be fatal. If you are experiencing some of the above symptoms, it is important to talk to your healthcare provider and get tested so that necessary treatment can be started, if needed.
Early diagnosis and proper management play a critical role in preventing and managing diabetes-related complications.
How long can you have undiagnosed diabetes?
The length of time you can have undiagnosed diabetes depends on the type. Generally speaking, Type 1 is usually diagnosed very quickly, as symptoms can come on quickly and intensely. Type 2, on the other hand, can often go undiagnosed for years, as the symptoms can be milder and appear slowly.
Diabetes is considered to be diagnosed if a person has two abnormal blood glucose tests done on separate days. Depending on a person’s individual situation, it’s possible to have undiagnosed diabetes for a very long time, if it’s not picked up by doctors during regular checkups or if there are no outward symptoms.
It’s important to note that if you have any symptoms of diabetes, like extreme thirst, frequent urination, weight loss, increased hunger, feeling tired, blurry vision, numbness of hands and feet, or slow-healing wounds, it’s important to see your doctor immediately.
Can you have diabetes for years without knowing it?
Yes, it is possible to have diabetes for several years without knowing it. This is especially true for Type 2 diabetes, as many people living with Type 2 diabetes are unaware that they have it. Many of the symptoms of Type 2 diabetes, such as increased thirst, fatigue, and frequent urination, often go unnoticed or are attributed to something else.
Furthermore, the damage that diabetes can cause over the years can occur without symptoms. Therefore, even if someone experiences some symptoms of diabetes, they may not realize that they have a serious health condition and go untreated for years.
It is important for everyone to be aware of the risk factors for diabetes and have regular check-ups to detect the early signs or prevent the progression of the disease.
Can you live with untreated diabetes?
Living with untreated diabetes is certainly possible, but doing so is not recommended and should be avoided if possible. Diabetes occurs when your body is unable to control the level of sugar in its bloodstream, which can lead to a variety of serious health problems.
Over time, untreated diabetes can cause damage to major organs such as the heart, kidneys, and nerves and can even lead to blindness, amputation, and stroke.
Untreated diabetes can have a major impact on your day-to-day life, since the condition brings with it a wide range of potential symptoms. These can include increased thirst, increased hunger, fatigue, frequent urination, and blurry vision.
These symptoms can make simple daily tasks more difficult and can have a major impact on your quality of life.
If you have diabetes, it is important to work with your healthcare provider to determine the best course of treatment. This will likely include a combination of lifestyle changes, medications, and regular monitoring of your blood sugar.
If you have difficulty managing your diabetes, speak with your doctor or a diabetes educator to learn more about other treatment options.
What does untreated diabetes feel like?
Untreated diabetes can cause a wide range of symptoms and effects on the body. While individual experiences can vary, common symptoms include extreme fatigue, blurry vision, frequent urination, unintentional weight loss, and thirst.
Additionally, those with untreated diabetes may experience dizziness or a sense of feeling lightheaded, as well as itchy skin, slow-healing wounds, and headaches. All of these symptoms can be uncomfortable, disabling, and can interfere with daily activities.
Additionally, untreated diabetes can cause serious long-term complications including eye damage, nerve damage, heart damage, kidney damage, and other complications such as foot problems and gum disease.
High blood sugar levels, which untreated diabetes can cause, can also affect the skin. This can result in dark patches, called acanthosis nigricans, which often arise on arm creases, neck and torso creases, and around the groin.
As mentioned, the effects and severity of diabetes can vary from person to person and can be made worse or improved by lifestyle factors. That is why it is important for those diagnosed with diabetes to receive the proper treatment and lifestyle modifications to improve their health and quality of life.
What is the longest you can live with diabetes?
It is difficult to pinpoint exactly how long someone with diabetes can live, as the disease affects people in different ways and there are many different types of diabetes. Most people with diabetes are expected to live a long and healthy life, with proper management and care.
Generally speaking, people with type 1 diabetes have a slightly shorter average lifespan than those without the condition. On the other hand, type 2 diabetes patients may have a similar life expectancy to their peers without the condition, depending on how well it is managed.
The key to living a long and healthy life with diabetes is proper management. Along with a healthy diet, regular exercise, and the necessary medications, people with diabetes should find a balance between low and high blood sugar, keeping it within their target ranges.
Additionally, people living with diabetes should visit their doctor regularly and take advantage of health screenings to more easily detect and manage any developing complications. With consistent and careful management and a proper lifestyle, people with diabetes can usually expect to enjoy a long and fruitful life.
What is silent diabetes?
Silent diabetes is a term used to describe type 2 diabetes that has developed to the point where symptoms have become apparent but are generally overlooked by individuals. This can lead to serious health problems if not treated properly.
Silent diabetes is often referred to as ‘latent autoimmune diabetes in adults’ (LADA) or ‘slow onset diabetes’. It is a condition in which the body slowly stops producing enough insulin to keep blood sugar levels in a healthy range, similar to type 2 diabetes.
This form of diabetes usually develops in people over the age of 40 who have a family history of diabetes, although it can affect anyone. Unlike type 2 diabetes, silent diabetes is not always diagnosed until serious health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and blindness, have already occurred.
Common symptoms of silent diabetes include unusual thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, and blurry vision, but these can also be caused by other health issues. If untreated, chronic high blood sugar levels can lead to other complications such as nerve damage, problems with the eyes, poor circulation in the legs and feet, and even death.
The best way to diagnose silent diabetes is to have a fasting blood sugar test, which measures your highest blood sugar concentration when your stomach is empty. Treatment typically includes lifestyle changes, such as a healthy diet and exercise, and sometimes insulin injections or medications to help manage the condition.
If treated early, it can be managed and can even go into remission.
What happens if type 2 diabetes is left untreated?
If type 2 diabetes is left untreated, it can lead to serious complications, such as heart disease, stroke, nerve damage, kidney disease, blindness and the need for amputation. In the short-term, untreated diabetes can cause a person to experience frequent urination, extreme thirst, extreme hunger, fatigue, and blurred vision.
If left untreated, they may suffer from a drastically increased risk of heart attack or stroke.
Over time, untreated diabetes can also lead to nerve damage and diabetic neuropathy, which can cause problems with the digestive system, urinary tract, feet, and sexual organs. Uncontrolled diabetes can damage small blood vessels in the eyes, eventually causing problems with vision, such as vision loss and even blindness.
Kidney disease, which can result in the need for dialysis or even a kidney transplant, is also a risk when type 2 diabetes is not managed properly.
Finally, people with untreated diabetes are also at risk for amputation. If blood sugars remain high, the feet, legs, and toes can become prone to infection and can even require amputation if infection and gangrene develop.
Treating diabetes is essential to prevent all of these complications that can occur when diabetes is left untreated.
What are 10 warning signs of diabetes?
1. Increased Thirst: Excessive thirst (also called polydipsia) can be an early sign of diabetes, especially in children. It occurs because the body tries to rid itself of unused glucose through urine.
When glucose isn’t taken up by cells, it builds up in the blood, eventually spilling over into the urine.
2. Frequent Urination: Diabetes can cause increased urination (polyuria). The body is trying to rid itself of unused glucose, causing frequent trips to the bathroom. Because of the extra urine, the person may become very thirsty.
3. Blurred Vision: High levels of sugar in the blood and fluid changes can cause blurred vision. If changes in eyesight cannot be corrected with glasses or contacts, it may be a diabetes symptom.
4. Slow-Healing Cuts and Bruises: As blood sugar levels become more difficult to control, circulation decreases. This can slow the healing of cuts and bruises, making them more likely to become infected.
5. Weight Loss: Uncontrolled diabetes can cause weight loss. This is because without insulin, the body cannot properly process glucose. When cells cannot properly take up blood sugar, the body turns to stored fat for energy.
6. Fatigue: Fatigue is one of the most common diabetes symptoms. The body may feel tired because it has difficulty processing glucose for energy.
7. Dry Skin and Itching: Diabetes can impair circulation and sweat glands, leading to dry skin that is prone to cracking and itching.
8. Recurrent Infections: The decrease in circulation caused by diabetes can also reduce the body’s ability to fight infections.
9. Unexplained Nausea and Vomiting: High levels of glucose in the blood can make someone feel sick to his or her stomach.
10. Gum Disease: The effects of diabetes on the oral health can lead to poor gum health and bleeding gums. This can make a person more prone to developing gum disease.
Can untreated diabetes lead to death?
Yes, untreated diabetes can lead to death. Diabetes is a serious chronic condition that occurs when a person’s body either can’t produce enough insulin or can’t effectively use the insulin it produces.
Without proper treatment, diabetes can cause high levels of glucose to build up in the bloodstream. Over time, this can cause damage throughout the body, potentially leading to serious health complications, such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, nerve damage, vision loss, gum disease, and even death.
Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States and one of the most common causes of death in the world. Untreated diabetes can lead to a condition known as ketoacidosis, a potentially deadly condition caused by high levels of ketones (byproducts of the breakdown of muscle and fat) combined with high blood sugar.
Going into ketoacidosis can cause fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, confusion and, without treatment, coma and death. Other complications arising from untreated diabetes may include damage to the blood vessels and organs, such as the kidneys and heart.
Additionally, high glucose levels in the bloodstream over a long period of time can eventually lead to diabetic coma, which can also be fatal.
What are the signs that diabetes is getting worse?
The signs that diabetes is getting worse can vary depending on the type of diabetes you have, either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. However, some common signs that diabetes is getting worse include increased thirst, frequent urination, feeling very tired, blurry vision, slow-healing sores, yeast infections and fruity-smelling breath.
Other signs of worsening diabetes can include weight loss, nausea, stomach pain, and even a fruity odor on your breath. If you experience any of these signs, it is important to seek medical advice.
Your healthcare provider can run tests to determine if your diabetes is getting worse, such as an A1c test, which measures the average level of glucose in your blood over the last two to three months.
Another test your healthcare provider may order is a laboratory test to measure your blood sugar levels. If your blood sugar levels are too high, this could be an indication that your diabetes is getting worse.
Your healthcare provider may also check your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. High levels of cholesterol and blood pressure can be an indication that your diabetes is not well-controlled, and may be worsening.
Your healthcare provider may also order an eye exam to check for diabetic retinopathy, which can indicate that your diabetes is progressing.
In addition, your healthcare provider may recommend lifestyle changes, such as getting more physical activity and eating a healthy diet, to help control your diabetes and prevent it from worsening. Following your healthcare provider’s recommendations, getting regular checkups, and monitoring your blood sugar levels can help you manage your diabetes and prevent it from getting worse.
How can undiagnosed diabetes make you feel?
Undiagnosed diabetes can make a person feel a variety of different symptoms, including excessive hunger and thirst, extreme fatigue, frequent urination, unexpected weight loss, and blurred vision. People with undiagnosed diabetes may also feel weak, irritable, and have difficulty concentrating.
Other symptoms might include repeated infections and wounds that heal slowly, as well as bumps and itching in the skin. Some people with mild diabetes may not feel any symptoms at all. It is important to see a healthcare provider if you are suffering from any of these symptoms, as they can be a sign of undiagnosed diabetes.
Does diabetes make you feel weird?
No, diabetes does not make you feel weird. However, diabetes can cause a wide range of physical and psychological symptoms, including fatigue, hunger, increased thirst, frequent urination, weight loss, and blurred vision.
Additionally, if your blood glucose levels are too high or too low, you may experience lightheadedness, a headache, blurred vision, dizziness, or sometimes extreme tiredness or confusion. On the other hand, if you have diabetes but you keep it well-managed with a healthy diet, regular exercise, and medication, you should not have any noticeable feelings of being “weird.
” It is important to talk to your doctor and to keep an open dialogue to ensure you are taking care of your diabetes and actively managing any issues that you may notice.
How long can someone have diabetes without knowing?
It is possible for someone to have diabetes without knowing it for an extended period of time. Symptoms of diabetes can be very subtle and in some cases, may not even develop for many months or even years after an individual has been diagnosed.
The three most common types of diabetes, Type 1, Type 2, and gestational diabetes, can often be present in an individual for months to years before they experience symptoms such as increased thirst and urination, increased hunger, weight gain, fatigue, blurred vision, slow-healing wounds and sores, and frequent infections.
However, it is important to note that pre-diabetes and undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes can be particularly difficult to identify and can progress to more serious chronic conditions over time. It is important to speak with a doctor if you are concerned that you may have diabetes, as regular screening tests can help to detect a potential diabetes diagnosis earlier and ensure that any potential complications associated with the development of diabetes are properly treated and managed.