If you are at risk of diabetes, it’s important to get tested. Left untreated, the symptoms of this disease are known to affect you in other ways.
According to Diabetes Canada (formerly Canadian Diabetes Association), living with diabetes puts people at an increased risk for numerous complications that carry their own symptoms and can affect treatment of the underlying disease.
Anxiety
Celiac Disease
Depress
Emotional distress
Eating disorders
Eye damage
Heart disease and stroke
High blood pressure
Kidney disease
Erectile dysfunction
Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (nerve damage)
In a 2015 study, Diabetes Canada found that 9.3% of Canadians have some form of diabetes. It’s believed that 22% of Canadians have pre-diabetes, which is defined as having elevated blood glucose levels but not high enough to be considered diabetes.
Many of the complications mentioned are associated with both diagnoses. Symptoms you should watch for include unusual thirst, frequent urination, weight change (gain or loss), extreme fatigue or lack of energy, blurred vision, tingling or numbness in the hands or feet or other signs listed at Diabetes Canada. Also, if you’re over the age of 40, ask your health care provider to check you for diabetes.
It’s not just to diagnose and treat the disease, but to protect you from complications that could arise.
