Despite medical advancements and the expansion of screening programs, millions of people around the world live with diabetes without realizing it. In the United States alone, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that about 8.7 million people are living with undiagnosed diabetes, nearly a quarter of all adults with the disease.
The absence of diagnosis leads to the disease progressing silently, increasing the risk of serious health complications that could have been avoided with early detection.
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects the body's ability to regulate blood sugar levels and is divided into several types, the most notable being Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is the most common, accounting for between 90% and 95% of cases, and often goes undetected for years because the increase in blood sugar levels happens gradually and without severe symptoms in its early stages.
The stage preceding Type 2 diabetes is known as prediabetes, a condition that can last years without any clear symptoms. Even when mild signs appear, they are often ignored or mistaken for fatigue, aging, or daily life stress, which leads to delayed diagnosis and loss of the opportunity for early intervention that could slow the progression of the disease.
In contrast, Type 1 diabetes differs in nature and onset speed, as it is an autoimmune disease where the body attacks the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Symptoms often appear suddenly in children, such as rapid weight loss, extreme thirst, and frequent urination, and the initial diagnosis may be linked to a medical emergency known as diabetic ketoacidosis, a serious complication that requires urgent intervention.
Early detection is crucial in paying attention to symptoms that may indicate diabetes, especially if they appear collectively or persist over a long period.
Common symptoms that may indicate diabetes:
• Frequent urination: as the body tries to rid itself of excess sugar through urine, leading to fluid loss and increased thirst.
• Severe and persistent thirst: due to water and salt loss caused by frequent urination.
• Severe hunger: due to the body's cells being unable to use sugar as an energy source, caused by a lack of insulin or resistance to it.
• Constant fatigue: as the body fails to benefit from food, an effective energy source.
• Unexplained weight loss: particularly in children with Type 1 diabetes, may also appear in cases of undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes.
• Blurred vision: as a result of the small blood vessels in the eye being affected by high blood sugar.
• Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet: due to peripheral nerve damage associated with chronic high blood sugar.
Besides these symptoms, other less common signs that deserve attention may include:
• Dry mouth.
• Dry skin and itching.
• Slow healing of wounds.
• Frequent infections, particularly skin or fungal infections.
• Appearance of dark, velvety patches of skin in some areas of the body.
Severe Complications
The danger of undiagnosed diabetes lies in its complications, both acute and chronic. Severe spikes in blood sugar can lead to medical emergencies such as diabetic ketoacidosis or hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome, both of which require immediate hospital treatment.
In the long term, uncontrolled diabetes can affect the heart, kidneys, nerves, eyes, and blood vessels, negatively impacting the daily life of the affected individual.
Therefore, the American Diabetes Association recommends routine screenings for Type 2 diabetes every three years after age 35, or earlier for individuals with risk factors such as obesity, a family history, high blood pressure, or physical inactivity.
Diagnostic methods include tests such as glycated hemoglobin, fasting blood sugar, and glucose tolerance tests, which are effective tools for early detection and staging of the disease.
Awareness of symptoms and early detection remain the cornerstone in combating diabetes. Timely diagnosis, along with lifestyle modification and appropriate treatment, can reduce the progression of the disease and provide those affected with a chance for a healthier, more stable life, away from complications that can be avoided with regular medical follow-up.
