RED FLAGS
The 9 early signs of diabetes to watch out for over Christmas – from bad breath to feeling extra impatient
And who is most at risk of the condition, that affects millions of Brits
CHRISTMAS is a time of year to kick back and let loose.
But among all that partying and overindulging, you may notice some unusual changes in yourself.
1
Although these can be passed off as a side effect of scoffing too many mince pies or glasses of mulled wine, they can also be early warning signs of type 2 diabetes.
Millions of people in the UK are currently living with the condition, but many have no idea they have it.
"Diabetes sometimes goes undetected as some of the symptoms go unnoticed," Dr Neel Patel, a GP at , explained.
Symptoms can be subtle, but some of them may become more obvious over the festive period.
READ MORE ON DIABETES
Here, we look at nine early indicators you may want to get checked by a GP in the New Year.
1. Peeing more often than normal
Frequent urination is one of the most common symptoms of type 2 diabetes.
This is because it helps the body remove excess glucose.
At Christmas, you might find yourself peeing more often than normal and blame it on alcohol or the cold weather.
Most read in Health
But if you notice it happens regularly, particularly at night, it might be wise to see a doctor.
2. Smelly breath
Plenty of festive foods can give you bad breath.
But a strange oral smell is also common in diabetes sufferers.
Depending on its exact cause, it can smell like anything from rotten eggs or apples to sweet pear drops.
Others compare the odour to acetone or nail varnish remover.
3. Being unusually thirsty
Feeling excessively thirsty is common after a heavy Christmas night out, but it is also a key indicator of diabetes.
It's a result of the blood sugar imbalance caused by the condition.
4. Tiredness
With all the parties and family gatherings, it's easy to feel exhausted around Christmas.
But extreme fatigue could suggest something more serious is going on.
While your tiredness could have many causes, it might be worth speaking to your GP about whether diabetes could be behind it.
5. Cuts taking longer to heal
If cut yourself while chopping vegetables or wrapping presents and the wound takes longer than normal to heal, that could be another sign you may have diabetes.
When the condition is uncontrolled, it can cause blood to move more slowly, making it tricky for the body to deliver nutrients to wounds.
As a result, injuries can heal more slowly than usual, or not at all.
6. Dizziness
Dizziness is a classic Christmas hangover symptom.
But it is also reported by many people with diabetes because of low or high blood sugar and dehydration.
7. Aggression, irritability and impatience
Research suggests blood sugar changes can significantly impact your mood.
Therefore, some people with diabetes, whether diagnosed or not, experience irritability, aggression or impatience.
Spending time with your in-laws can definitely bring this on over the dinner table, but if it is particularly out of character for you or happens regularly, consider speaking to a healthcare professional.
Whether diabetes or not, there could be a simple explanation - and solution.
8. Nervousness or anxiety
Anxiety symptoms may be mistaken for symptoms of low blood sugar, and vice versa.
For example, a pounding heart, confusion, shaking, sweating, dizziness, headache, and nausea are symptoms of both hypoglycaemia and panic attacks.
Research suggests that anxiety affects about 40 per cent of people with diabetes.
9. Weight loss without trying
Most people stuff their faces over Christmas, and their clothes feel a little tighter come January.
So if you find your jeans actually seem looser in the New Year, it could be worth getting checked out.
Diabetes can cause rapid weight loss because when you lose sugar through frequent urination, you also lose calories.
This, along with dehydration, can trigger weight loss.
Other common diabetes symptoms, less specific to the festive period, are:
- Thrush or itchy genitals
- Confusion
- Hunger
- Difficulties with coordination, concentration and decision making
- Personality and behavioural changes
- Blurry vision
- Dark spots on your skin
Some people are more at risk than others.
Dr Patel said: "Generally, people who are overweight or obese are more at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
"Specifically, people with an unhealthy waistline measurement and those who store too much fat around their pancreas and liver can be at high risk.
"Certain ethnicities also have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
"People from Black African, African Caribbean and South Asian backgrounds are generally at a higher risk."
If you notice any of these symptoms, it is important to get them checked by a doctor.
"Diabetes can be very dangerous if it goes untreated," Dr Patel said.
"Most complications build up over time but others can present at any point."
Diabetes complications include:
- Sight loss
- Foot problems, like chronic ulcers
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Kidney problems
- Nerve damage
- Gum disease
- Sexual difficulties
But if your diabetes is properly managed, you should be able to live a healthy and normal life, Dr Patel added.
You can lower your risk of type 2 diabetes by choosing a healthy lifestyle.
"One of the biggest factors that can help is losing weight," Dr Patel said.
"This can be done through increasing your physical activity and eating healthier balanced meals.
"If your waist size is over 31.5in for a woman or 37in for a man, you may want to consider losing weight to reduce your risk of developing diabetes.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
"Two other key lifestyle improvements that can help reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes are quitting smoking and cutting back on alcohol.
"Both smoking and excessive drinking have been linked to increased risk of developing the disease and smoking has been shown to increase the risk of complications if you do develop type 2 diabetes."
Topics