People with uncontrolled diabetes have a greater risk of diabetic complications.
Classic symptoms of uncontrolled blood sugar include excessive thirst, fatigue, and blurred vision.
But there are many less obvious signs as well.
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This article discusses the symptoms of uncontrolled diabetes.
It explains the common and uncommon signs of high blood sugar and when to talk to your healthcare provider.
How Long Can You Live with Uncontrolled Diabetes?
Verywell
While people with uncontrolled pop in 2 diabetes can also develop DKA, it is less common.
Uncontrolled punch in 2 diabetes can shorten your lifespan in other ways.
Sustained high blood sugar also increases your risk of complications that may be disabling.
On average, the life expectancy of people with pop in 2 diabetes is six years shorter than nondiabetics.
However, research shows improving blood sugar control can add 3.8 years back.
In the early stages of diabetes, there may be few, if any, symptoms.
It also makes it easier for bacteria to penetrate and thrive in damaged tissues and organs.
One such example of this isdiabetic foot syndrome.
The reduced blood flow also prevents the proper formation of scabs and the remodeling of new tissues.
Slow wound healing is the hallmark of diabetic foot syndrome.
With uncontrolled diabetes, sores can fester and causetissue death, leading to the onset ofgangrene.
Polyuria is the medical term for frequent urination.
Polyuria with diabetes is the direct result of high blood sugar.
This does not happen with uncontrolled diabetes.
The osmotic effect draws more fluid into the kidneys, leading to increased urination.
Uncontrolled diabetes is just one cause of polyuria.
This is due to the dehydration brought on by the rapid and persistent loss of body fluid through urination.
Extreme dehydration can also make your blood sugar rise quickly due to the decreased fluid volume in the body.
Drinking more water may help in the short term, but it doesn’t solve the underlying problem.
To curb your thirst, you should probably get your blood sugar under control.
Extreme Fatigue
Fatigueis common in people with uncontrolled diabetes.
DKA shows up when your body doesn’t have enough insulin to transport glucose into cells for energy.
When too many ketones are produced too quickly, they can build up in the blood to dangerous levels.
Constant Hunger
Polyphagiais a term used to describe excessive hunger or increased appetite.
It is one of the three main signs of diabetes, alongside increased thirst and frequent urination.
When diabetes is uncontrolled, it prevents glucose from entering cells for conversion into energy.
It may worsen the problem by adding to already high blood sugar levels.
Blurry Vision
Blurry visionis sometimes one of the earliest signs of diabetes.
It can occur when your blood sugar levels are too high, too low, or rapidly fluctuating.
Muscle is heavier than fat, so weight loss is common in people with uncontrolled diabetes.
Excessive urination also means that you are losing excessive amounts of water, which can contribute to weight fluctuations.
Some researchers believe that high blood sugar causes damage to the small blood vessels in theinner ear.
Others contend that it increases pressure in the fluid-filledcochlea, which acts as the microphone of the ear.
PAD not only occurs earlier than in people without diabetes but is more likely to be severe.
Skin Conditions
Diabetes can affect the skin in different ways.
In people with long-standing diabetes, it can sometimes cause irreversible skin changes.
Other skin problems only arise when blood sugar levels are high and will clear once the levels are normalized.
People who have obesity or diabetes are most likely to experience AN.
AN is most commonly linked toinsulin resistance.
Over time, these morph into shiny scars with a violet border.
The cause of NLD is unknown but is more common in females than males.
The condition, calledbullous diabeticorum, is seen almost exclusively in people with long-standing diabetes and poor glucose control.
The blisters look similar to burn blisters and are often accompanied by tingling or pin-and-needles sensations.
Despite their large size and unsightly appearance, the blisters usually don’t cause outright pain.
The blisters tend to resolve within three weeks if blood sugar levels are brought under control.
Males are more likely to experience EX than females.
As with bullous diabeticorum, these bumps will disappear once diabetes is brought under control.
The only treatment for digital sclerosis is to bring blood sugar levels back under control.
DGA is associated with poor glucose control but may also be the first sign of diabetes in some people.
The fingers, hands, and feet are the areas most often affected.
DGA tends to clear on its own and generally improves with well-controlled diabetes.
Long-Term Effects of Uncontrolled Diabetes
Over time, uncontrolled high blood sugar leads to long-term complications.
Some complications, like blindness and kidney failure, are permanent.
Other complications, like peripheral neuropathy, may be reversible if caught early.
Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to a decreased quality of life due to complications.
It can also lead to heart disease, including fatal heart attacks and strokes.
Managing your blood sugar can help to prevent complications.
Diabetes management looks different for everyone.
Some people are able to control their blood sugar with diet and exercise alone.
Others need insulin or other blood-sugar-lowering medications.
If your current treatment isn’t working to control your blood sugar, your healthcare provider can help.
Many of the symptoms will clear once the blood sugar is brought under control.
Others may cause permanent, irreversible damage.
Weight loss can also help reverse insulin resistance seen in people withtype 2 diabetesand prediabetes.
Setting realistic goals can help you stay on track.
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