Do you recognise the symptoms of diabetes?

Posted on 26 October 2017

Diabetes is a condition that inhibits your body’s ability to properly regulate blood glucose levels. The International Diabetes Foundation (IDF) estimates that in 2011 there were 14.7 million adult diabetics in Africa, and that around 78% of diabetics remain undiagnosed.

According to the IDF the greatest increase in diabetes is expected to be in Africa – where it is predicted that the incidence of diabetes in Africa will have almost doubled by 2030.

Many people may mistake the symptoms of diabetes for other ailments and fail to seek suitable medical advice. Common symptoms of diabetes include:

• Being very thirsty
• Frequent urination
• Rapid weight loss or gain
• Extreme unexplained fatigue
• Blurry vision
• Irritability
• Increased hunger
• Tingling or numbness in hands or feet

We encourage anyone with these symptoms to consult with their General Practitioner to accurately diagnose the cause. Remember the earlier your diabetes is diagnosed and treated, the better. Diabetic complications are serious and include heart disease, stroke, blindness, amputations and kidney failure. In most cases, these complications could have been avoided by early diagnosis and proper treatment.

In some cases, there may not be any obvious symptoms. In these cases the persons may live for months or years without realising that they have diabetes.

This November, Diabetes Awareness Month, get free blood pressure and blood glucose tests at participating Mediclinic hospitals.

For more information visit www.mediclinic.co.za.