Today (14 November) marks World Diabetes Day.
Diabetes is a condition where the pancreas produces little or sometimes no insulin, and this impairs your body’s ability to properly regulate blood glucose levels.
According to the International Diabetes Foundation (IDF) the greatest increase in incidence of diabetes is expected to be in Africa – where it is predicted that the incidence of diagnosed 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.
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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.
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Anyone with these symptoms is encouraged to consult 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, and kidney failure. In most cases, these complications could have been avoided by early diagnosis and proper treatment.
Source: ER24
