More than five million people in the UK have diabetes – and more than a million of these are believed to be undiagnosed, according to Diabetes UK. Those with undiagnosed diabetes, the charity adds, are “more likely to report better general health than those with a diagnosis”.
It also states that women “were more likely to be undiagnosed if they had a lower body mass index (BMI), lower waist circumference, or were not prescribed antidepressants”, as per its research. Type 2 diabetes can often be prevented – and it can lead to grave health issues such as heart disease or stroke.
Regardless of the type, diabetes causes elevated sugar levels in the blood, potentially leading to lasting damage to body parts including eyes, nerves, kidneys, and blood vessels if prolonged high blood sugar persists. High blood sugar can often present oral symptoms – including a dry mouth, or a “fruity” smelling breath.
Other signs include increased thirst, more frequent urination, nausea, fatigue, blurred vision, unintended weight loss, stomach pain, and frequent infections such as thrush, cystitis, and skin problems. As hyperglycaemia symptoms can indicate undiagnosed diabetes, the NHS suggests seeing a GP if these symptoms present themselves.
Many individuals unknowingly live with type 2 diabetes for years due to the non-specific nature of early symptoms, reports the Liverpool Echo.