How long can you have diabetes (type 1 or 2) without knowing ?
I think I might have diabetes as I have lots of the symptoms,only thing is though I recall one of the symptoms being about 2years before now and others varying from a few weeks ago to a few months ago
I have always thought diabetes was fast moving ect and so qucikly regognised (as my Uncle kept on fainting ect a week before he was diagnosed)
I will point out that im not sure I have diabetes but am going to try and get tested anyway I was just wondering if it is possible to experience symptons years,months ect before its diagnosed?
It is very possible to have diabetes for years and not know it. Many diabetics do not have symptoms and those that do have symptoms simple chalk it off to other things and go on their way. Here are some sypmtoms to watch for
Constant thirst
Frequent urination
Constant hunger
Unexplained weight loss or gain
Irritability
Headaches
Nausea or vomiting
Leg cramps
Blurry vision
Reoccuring yeast infections in women, itching penis in men
Frequent boils
Slow healing wounds
Burning tingling sensations in hands, arms, feet, or legs
Itchy skin, but no rash
If you have any doubts, see the doctor right away to be tested
Type 2 does not go into remission. Some people can control it well with diet and exercise for many years. It takes very tight control and a person with good will power to do this, and it also depends on their disease. If the pancreas is not making enough insulin, they need medication. It is a misconception of many people that think type 2 will just go away with a good diet. This is NOT true
Type 1 diabetes will mess you up really quickly, so you can't have it long before you get very sick. You can have type 2 for quite some time before diagnosis, and it is believed many with type 2 are currently undiagnosed. You can also go into remission from type 2 if you lose weight/change your diet, then it can come back when you gain weight or change your diet.
Type 1 usually escalates to a critical point within months, but Type 2 can languish around for years undiagnosed. Just buy an inexpensive blood glucose meter at the drugstore (a One Touch Mini is only about $15) and test it yourself, first thing in the morning before you eat anything or do any exercise. If it's over 100, go to a doctor to get some further tests done.
some people have type 2 diabetes for years and dont know it, they just gradually feel unwell and have symptoms they cant explain. its only after they are admitted to hospital for something else, or they have blood tests done that a nurse or doctor will spot it.
type 1 diabetes is more serious and more visible than type 2. people feel unwell for a few weeks, perhaps months then they collapse with hypo/hyperglycemia and are admitted to hospital. just like your uncle.
hope this helps. anything else just email me x
Certainly,…many people have gone years without dibetes being detected or diagnosed. There are also certain ailments or body changes that can cause your pancreas to start and stop functioning properly. For example, while women are pregnant they may experience Gestational Diabetes ( pancreas not working during pregnancy ) and then may return to normal after giving birth. There are also many cases where someone who lost 100 lbs or more of body weight, returns to a normally functioning pancreas,…hope this helps,…see your Dr. anyways,..good luck :0)
Yes, especially if you dont go to the doctor.
Type 1 diabetes is almost instantaneous, it doesn't build up for a period of time. One day you are happy and normal, the next you are in the hospital in a coma. Yep!! It slaps most people just that fast.
Type 2 diabetes is insidious!! It sneaks up on you for years and years!! Nothing dramatic or traumatic, just little things!! One day you may, but probably won't notice you are going to the bathroom way too often. A new person in your life may ask about this?? Not something even your friends will notice. How is that for Sneaky? About half of type 2 diabetics are diagnosed from the optometrists chair!!! He looks at the back of the eye and sees . . . tiny damaged blood vessels back there bleeding! He says Why don't you go see your regular doctor for blood work? things do not look fine from here.
In the 21st century more testing is being done, more people are getting the message to be thinking about these things, diagnosis is being done sooner, meds are way better and best of all we have personal testing meters!!! So we should soon be seeing the statistics on amputations and blindness going down!!
I hope we don't have to welcome you to our little exclusive club!! We really hate welcoming new members.
For type 1 diabetics, there is sometimes a 'honeymoon' phase which can be brief or extensive- their body will continue to meet SOME but not ALL of their insulin needs, making them unwell but not always in immediate danger. Even in the lack of a honeymoon, it can sometimes take weeks.
For type 2 diabetes, because it is often fairly slowly progressive, people can have it for years before they are diagnosed.
Either way, if you think you might be diabetic, the easiest way 'to know' is to pick up a cheap glucose meter from a store- they're usually around 20$ and come with a few test strips, check on the box to make sure, and test yourself- you'll want to check your FASTING level, which is the level right after you wake up, and if it's above 126, you're diabetic, if it's above 110, you're pre-diabetic. You'll also want to check your post-meal glucose levels two hours after eating. If it's ever above 200, you're diabetic. If it's ever above 140 but not 200, you're pre-diabetic.