DIABETES – THE SILENT KILLER
“Diabetes starts as a silent disease, advancing painlessly, almost imperceptibly,” says Dr. Ferrer.
Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a metabolic, endocrine disorder. It is a chronic disease characterized by a state of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar level) due to insulin deficiency.
It starts insidiously, and even in the absence of symptoms hence called a silent killer as this condition brings several other disorders to patients. Many individuals are accidentally detected as a case of DM when they are investigated for some other reasons like preoperative investigations.
People with type 2 diabetes often have no symptoms at first. It develops over time. Even a person can have type 2 diabetes for years without knowing it. Laurie Sandberg, of Meritus Endocrinology Specialists, says,
“Blood sugars increase slowly and gradually. You typically don’t wake up one day with a blood sugar level of 300.”
Hence it is important to manage diabetes to avoid complications that follow this disease including cardiovascular disease, retinopathy, diabetic foot, pregnancy complications, kidney diseases, neuropathy, periodontitis.
The silent symptoms of Diabetes included frequent urination, excessive thirst, extreme hunger, weakness/fatigue, blurry vision, itchy skin, slow healing wounds, and increased skin infections. One should have paid close attention to these red flags so that they can be early diagnosed and managed effectively.
“Being diagnosed with diabetes can be challenging at first, but with education and support, control is always possible,” says Sandberg.
Diabetes cannot be cured but can only be controlled. People may get extremely disappointed when they know that they’re diagnosed with diabetes. Positive thinking and the assistance of an expert health professional can control your diabetes efficiently and make you lead a long healthy life. Diabetes that comes with age, family history, or genetics cannot be prevented but can be controlled effectively by self-management and expert advice.
The most important thing is the diagnosis stage. If it is diagnosed early, it is very easy to keep it under control. So, in case you feel any symptoms of diabetes, do not hesitate to visit your doctor.
Remember: Diabetes is a silent killer which can be prevented and controlled but difficult to treat.
