Generally disease diabetes more common in old age. However, it is possible that diabetes can also be experienced at a young age.
It should be noted, the younger the age of a person affected by diabetes, it will be more worrying when compared to those aged 50 years and over. According to a report in the journal Diabetes Care In 2012, diabetes mellitus that occurred at a young age actually had a progressive or rapid process of worsening the condition.
In addition, damage to insulin cells or what we can analogize as insulin factories is more prone to occur. What’s worse, most of this young age group are not aware of the signs of diabetes and only know they have the disease after their condition gets worse or has complications.
If you get diabetes at a young age, of course, the patient must maintain a lifestyle and get treatment for a longer time, it can even last a lifetime. This is because diabetes cannot be cured and the treatment is aimed at controlling it.
It’s important to know, here signs of diabetes at a young age. Don’t ignore it, ok?
1. Polyphagia or an unusual increase in appetite
A person with diabetes certainly has a problem with high blood sugar. However, due to insulin resistance or deficiency, the cells in the body have difficulty converting blood sugar into an energy source. Therefore, the cells in the body give a signal to the brain if the body is hungry and wants to eat constantly.
Not infrequently people with diabetes will be overweight or obese because of an increase in diabetes appetite who are more than usual, then become thin later on because the food intake that enters the body is difficult for cells to process, so it cannot be a source of energy.
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2. Polyuria or frequent urination
illustration of wanting to pee (unsplash.com/Olivier Collet)–
Reported WebMD, when the rate blood sugar too high, which is what happens in diabetics, the kidneys have to work harder to get rid of it. This condition forces the kidneys to make more urine.
In addition, diabetes can also cause damage to the kidneys or bladder, both of which can cause a person to urinate more or more frequently.
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Also read: 8 Effective Ways to Prevent Diabetes, Must Know As Early As Possible!
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3. Polydipsia or frequent thirst
ilustrasi house (unsplash.com/Piotr Chrobot)–
When you urinate too often, your body will lose a lot of fluids which can lead to dehydration. Therefore, the body needs a balanced intake of fluids to avoid dehydration. It is not uncommon for someone who has signs of diabetes to feel thirsty more often or the medical term is polydipsia.
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4. Darkening of the skin in certain areas
ilustrasi acanthosis nigricans (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/StatPearls Publishing LLC./Scott Dulebohn, MD)–
The next sign of diabetes is the appearance of dark patches on the skin. This dark color occurs due to high levels of insulin, so that the production of pigment becomes excessive.
The changes that occur usually start with darkening of the skin in the folds, scaly, and even wrinkles. This condition is known as acanthosis nigricans.
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5. Dry skin
dry skin illustration (pexels.com/Chalo Garcia)–
According to information from American Diabetes AssociationDiabetes can affect many areas of the body, including the skin. A person with diabetes will generally experience dry skin and itching.
This complaint occurs due to obstruction of blood circulation and nerve sensitivity, thus affecting the body to produce excess cytotoxins and eventually cause skin inflammation such as itching, dryness, and cracking.
Those are some early signs of diabetes to watch out for at a young age. Just one symptom does not mean you have diabetes. However, if you experience some of the conditions above or feel worried, you should immediately check your blood sugar or better yet see a doctor so that further examination can be done.
Also read: 7 Diseases That Have Symptoms Similar to Diabetes, Similar but Not the Same!
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