Type 2 diabetes can be a ‘devastating diagnosis’ says expert
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Diabetes is a serious condition that affects about five million people across the UK – but there could be plenty more living with undiagnosed diabetes. It’s crucial that everyone watches out for a hidden sign of high blood sugar in their urine, it’s been claimed.
About 90 percent of all diabetes cases are caused by type 2 diabetes.
The condition is caused by the body struggling to produce enough of the hormone insulin, or the body not reacting to insulin.
Insulin helps to convert sugar in the blood into useable energy.
But it’s incredibly difficult to know if you’re at risk of the condition.
You should consider speaking to a doctor about diabetes if you start passing more urine than normal – particularly at night, according to UNC Healthcare.
Anybody that’s regularly waking up to use the loo at least three times could be at risk of the condition.
However, everybody’s body is different, and some people naturally pass more urine than others.
But, if you’ve actively been cutting back on your water and caffeine intake before bed, and are still waking up to use the loo, it could be a red flag of diabetes, it warned.
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“Most people urinate four to seven times in a day,” said UNC Healthcare.
“If you are making more trips to the bathroom, especially waking multiple times at night to go, it may be a sign that your kidneys are working overtime to flush out excess sugar in your blood.
UNC Diabetes and Endocrinology Clinic’s nurse practitioner, Katherine Bergamo, added: “If you are urinating more than one to two times overnight, try not drinking after 7pm, and not having caffeinated beverages after 5pm.
“If you’re still getting up multiple times to go the bathroom at night, that may be a sign that something else is going on.”
But just because you’ve started using the loo more often than normal, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have diabetes.
Excessive urination could be caused by a wide range of different conditions, including prostate problems, pregnancy, and cystitis.
Taking certain medications could also lead to passing more urine than you’re used to.
If you’re ever concerned about the amount of times you’re using the toilet, it’s best to speak to a doctor.
Other common diabetes symptoms include feeling very tired for no obvious reason, having cuts or wounds that take longer to heal, or even blurred vision.
You could, however, lower your chances of developing diabetes by eating a healthy balanced diet.
Regular exercise is also key to protecting against high blood sugar, said the NHS.
Everyone should aim to do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity every week.
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