More than half of people don't know they have diabetes! Be alert if you have these symptoms

World Diabetes Day is celebrated on November 14th every year. One in 10 people in the world suffers from diabetes, and one person dies from diabetes every 5 seconds. In the 10 years from 2011 to 2021, the number of diabetes patients in China has increased from 90 million to 140 million, an increase of 55.56%. Among them, about 72.83 million patients have not been diagnosed, which means that the proportion of people who do not know that they have diabetes is as high as 51.7%, and more than half of them do not know that they have diabetes.

When young people develop diabetes

Recent research data from China reveals another interesting trend: the incidence of diabetes has increased among younger people since 2008 (see figure below). Although this increase did not continue from 2013 to 2018, it does not mean that the problem has been solved...

From reference [1]

There are still many news reports about young people suffering from diabetes. For example, a well-known e-sports player once revealed that he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and announced his retirement.

According to the pathogenic mechanism, diabetes can be divided into type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Type 1 is an autoimmune disease that usually occurs after a viral infection, inducing an autoimmune response in the patient's body, resulting in the pancreas being unable to secrete insulin.

Type 2 diabetes is a disease caused by genetic and environmental factors that lead to insulin resistance and pancreatic beta cell damage, and is more related to acquired factors including diet and lifestyle habits.

This case is not an isolated one, and it reveals that even in the context of a temporary slowdown in the growth trend of diabetes incidence, unhealthy lifestyle habits are still a serious problem facing young people.

Hidden alarm

The initial symptoms of diabetes are not obvious, and for young people, it is more important to be aware of the hidden nature of prediabetes.
Prediabetes is a latent state. Although the blood sugar level is higher than the normal range , it has not yet reached the diagnostic criteria for diabetes (6.1 mmol/L≤fasting blood sugar <7.0 mmol/L, 7.8 mmol/L≤two-hour postprandial blood sugar <11.1 mmol/L).

At this stage, it is entirely possible to restore blood sugar to normal after proper intervention, but if proper measures are not taken, it is likely to develop into full-blown diabetes.
In the pre-diabetes stage, people may experience subtle changes that are often overlooked. For example, slightly blurred vision, feeling tired all the time, feeling thirsty and urinating frequently . These signs may be attributed to work stress or irregular lifestyle habits. However, this is exactly the warning sign that pre-diabetes sends us.

During this period, diet and exercise can reduce the risk of diabetes by 30% to 40%. However, busy lives may cause many young people to ignore these subtle physical changes, thus missing the best time for early intervention.

Therefore, it is crucial for young people to be aware of these early signs of prediabetes . If the above symptoms occur, it is recommended to test your blood sugar and keep abreast of your health status. Through early identification and appropriate lifestyle adjustments, it is entirely possible to prevent prediabetes from developing into formal diabetes.

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Potential systemic crisis

Once it becomes official diabetes, it opens a Pandora's box that may trigger multiple complications throughout the body.

The threat of diabetes complications far exceeds many people's expectations. They do not simply affect one organ, but may spread to the whole body, from eyes to toes, leaving no part unaffected .

Imagine the damage your eyes, heart, kidneys, and even brain could suffer due to poor circulation caused by diabetes.

Diabetic retinopathy in the eyes may cause blurred vision or even blindness; the kidneys may suffer from diabetic nephropathy, which may lead to renal failure and uremia in severe cases;

Attacking the heart and brain increases the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke. These are potentially fatal risks. Not only that, diabetics may also face problems such as skin infections and nerve damage. Nerve damage may lead to decreased sensation in the feet and even develop into diabetic foot, which may lead to serious infection and even require amputation.

These complications are real and serious health problems that can occur. Therefore, diabetes is not a disease that can be taken lightly, and its complications show the true danger of this disease. Actively preventing and controlling diabetes is not only to avoid high blood sugar itself, but also to prevent a series of complications that may affect the quality of life or even threaten life .

Prevention is better than cure, develop healthy habits

“Prevention is better than cure”, and this is especially true in the case of diabetes. Developing healthy lifestyle habits can not only effectively prevent the occurrence of diabetes, but also significantly reduce the risk of its complications.

First of all, a proper diet is the key to preventing diabetes. This does not mean that we need to strictly restrict our diet, but we should choose healthier and more nutritionally balanced foods. For example, increase the intake of dietary fiber, such as whole grains, vegetables and fruits, while reducing the intake of processed foods and high-sugar foods. Healthy eating habits not only help control weight, but also improve blood sugar levels, thereby preventing diabetes. The following are recommended foods:

Staple foods (carbohydrates): wheat, barley, rye, buckwheat, black rice, oats, oats, highland barley, corn, oatmeal porridge, tortillas

Vegetables: asparagus, cauliflower, broccoli, celery, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, green peppers, tomatoes, spinach, pumpkin, beans, mushrooms

Fruits: apples, pears, peaches, plums, oranges, tangerines, grapes

Meat: eggs, lean meat, fish

Snacks: nuts, pure chocolate, dairy products

Secondly, regular physical exercise is also crucial. Exercise not only helps us maintain a healthy weight, but also improves the body's sensitivity to insulin. It doesn't have to be intense exercise, but moderate-intensity activities such as brisk walking, swimming or cycling are enough to produce positive health effects if you can stick to it at least three times a week.

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In addition, it is equally important to maintain a good mental state. Stress is a common factor that leads to diabetes, so learning to effectively manage stress and using relaxation techniques such as meditation and deep breathing can help us maintain stable blood sugar levels.

Finally, regular health checks should not be neglected. Through regular checks, any abnormal changes in blood sugar levels can be detected in time, so that action can be taken before diabetes develops into a serious problem:

① Regardless of age, women with a body mass index > 23, high blood pressure, atypical cholesterol levels, a sedentary lifestyle, a history of polycystic ovary syndrome or heart disease, or a close relative with diabetes should undergo an initial blood sugar screening. If the results are normal, they should be screened every three years.

② Those aged >35 years should undergo a preliminary blood sugar screening. If the result is normal, they should be screened every three years.

③Women who have experienced gestational diabetes are recommended to undergo screening every 3 years.

People with prediabetes should be screened annually.

In summary, we have the power to prevent diabetes and its complications by developing healthy eating habits, maintaining adequate physical activity, managing psychological stress, and undergoing regular health checks.

Fighting diabetes is not only a physical battle, but also a lifestyle revolution. Through these simple but effective steps, each of us can take responsibility for our own health and keep diabetes away from our lives.

References

[1]Hu C, Jia W. Diabetes in China: Epidemiology and Genetic Risk Factors and Their Clinical Utility in Personalized Medication. Diabetes. 2018;67(1):3-11.

[2]Wang L, Peng W, Zhao Z, et al. Prevalence and Treatment of Diabetes in China, 2013-2018 [published correction appears in JAMA. 2022 Mar 15;327(11):1093]. JAMA. 2021;326(24):2498-2506.

[3] myoclinc. Prediabetes. 2023.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prediabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20355278

[4]Echouffo-Tcheugui JB, Perreault L, Ji L, et al. Diagnosis and Management of Prediabetes: A Review. JAMA. 2023;329(14):1206-1216.

[5] General Office of the National Health Commission. Dietary Guidelines for Adults with Diabetes (2023 Edition).

[6]Cannata F, Vadalà G, Russo F, et al. Beneficial Effects of Physical Activity in Diabetic Patients. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2020;5(3):70.

[7] Mayoclinic. Diabetes. 2023.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20371451

Planning and production

This article is a work of Science Popularization China-Starry Sky Project

Produced by Science Popularization Department of Science Popularization China

Producer: China Science and Technology Press Co., Ltd., Beijing Zhongke Xinghe Culture Media Co., Ltd.

Author: Jiang Yongyuan, Master of Internal Medicine, Third Military Medical University

Reviewer: Tang Qin, Director and Researcher of the Science Popularization Department of the Chinese Medical Association

Planning | Yinuo

Editor | Wang Mengru