More than 5.6 million people in the UK are living with diabetes, with many having overlooked the initial symptoms.
NHS Doctor Amir Khan, who appears as a GP on ITV shows ‘Lorraine’ and ‘Good Morning Britain’, has taken to TikTok to highlight five early indicators of type 2 diabetes.
In his post, the doctor wrote: “Type 2 diabetes is really common but the symptoms can be vague. Here are 5 symptoms you may have without knowing you have type 2 diabetes. Hope it’s useful.” He begins by pointing out that fatigue is an often-ignored symptom. He explains: “This is the most common symptom I see.
“Because your body’s insulin isn’t working as it should to release energy from your sugars, your body will look for other energy sources such as your protein and fat stores. These are harder to break down and don’t have as much energy in them so you end up feeling tired.”
Dr Khan also notes that recurrent infections could signal type 2 diabetes, including urinary tract infections, thrush, or skin infections. Increased bathroom visits might also be a clue worth discussing with your GP. He elaborates: “Peeing lots – if your blood sugars are persistently high, your body will try to lower this by making you go to the loo to pee out those excess sugars. But as you pee sugar out, you pee lots of water too and that can end up making you feel thirsty and drinking lots too.”
Dr Khan has highlighted unexplained weight loss as a symptom of type 2 diabetes, which is often associated with being overweight. He explained: “Number five is nerve pain. We call this peripheral neuropathy and it usually causes tingling, burning or painful sensations in your toes and feet and this is because high sugars can damage those tiny little nerves in your toes and the blood vessels that give them their food and oxygen.
“That makes it harder for them to carry proper nerve impulses back to your brain and spinal cord so you end up with those funny sensations.” Dr Khan urges anyone experiencing these symptoms to get a blood test for type 2 diabetes.
Social media users have shared their experiences, with one commenting: “I have got all these symptoms and I have got type 2 diabetes and already lost one of my toes and can’t move the rest and I’m probably the slimmest person with diabetes.”
Another revealed: “I have most of these symptoms I had a blood test last week and I have pre-diabetes nearly on the level of type 2 diabetes.” A third person mentioned: “I had no symptoms at all, found while looking into ongoing stomach problems which haven’t been resolved! Diagnosed at a level of 50 within three months I had it down to 43 without meds! “.