Brits are being urged to look out for seven key symptoms of diabetes as “spiralling” numbers of people are now living with the silent killer condition. More than four million people in the UK are now living with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes, with hundreds of thousands more unaware they have it.
Diabetes is a typically lifelong condition that causes a person’s blood sugar level to become too high.
The majority of patients – 90 percent – usually have type 2 diabetes, which is often caused by lifestyle factors like being overweight and not getting enough exercise.
Charity Diabetes UK warned that 4.3 million people have been diagnosed with either type 1 or type 2 – and an estimated 850,000 more are unaware they even have the condition.
Charity CEO Chris Askew said: “These figures show we’re in the grip of a rapidly escalating crisis. Spiralling numbers of people are now living with type 2 diabetes and millions are at high risk of developing the condition.
“The fear of serious complications is a life-long reality for millions of people across the UK.”
On top of this, two-thirds of the UK population are overweight, which raises their risk of diabetes. As reported by The Mirror, figures reveal around 2.4million people are at ‘high risk’ of type 2 diabetes, with an alarming increase among the under-40s.
Yet Mr Askew added: “With the right care and support, cases of Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or put into remission.”
Like every condition, there are a number of signs and symptoms that can point to someone having it, with some red flags less well-known than others.
What are the key symptoms of diabetes?
The NHS says you should visit your GP if you experience any of the following symptoms of diabetes, or a condition known as pre-diabetes:
- Going to the toilet more often, particularly at night
- Feeling more tired, as your body can’t get enough glucose into your cells for energy
- Losing weight without trying
- Genital itching or thrush
- Cuts and wounds taking longer to heal
- Blurred vision
- Feeling very thirsty
A lesser-known sign of diabetes is a rash on the skin. There are several types of rash that occur in those with diabetes.
Bullosis diabeticorum
The Cleveland Clinic describes this as “painless blisters [that] may form on the backs of hands and feet and on the legs and forearms”. This condition often affects people with diabetic neuropathy – a condition where the nerves are damaged through diabetes.
Diabetes dermopathy
This is where the shins become covered in light-brown patches of scaly skin. They can often look like age spots and don’t require any treatment.
Find out about the symptoms you need to watch out for and get health advice with our free health newsletter from the Daily Express
Digital sclerosis
This is a type of rash that appears if you have type 1 diabetes. It causes the skin to harden up and turn waxy on the back of the hands.
Necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum (NLD)
This is a lower leg rash that’s more often found in women. It can cause red, raised, and shiny patches of skin, with a yellow centre.
If you experience any symptoms of diabetes you should speak to your doctor.
