The 8 Prediabetic Symptoms

Researchers from hospitals and universities around Germany followed 10,566 apparently healthy participants aged 25 to 74 for an average of 16 years. Symptoms were regularly assessed using an established questionnaire called the Somatic Symptom Scale-8.

The following eight prediabetic symptoms were measured on a four-point scale ranging from 0 (not present) to 3 (strong):

1. Stomach or bowel pain
2. Back pain
3. Pain in the joints
4. Headaches or pressure in the head
5. Temporary shortness of breath
6. Dizziness
7. Feeling tired
8. Insomnia

Total scores could range from 0 to 24.

During that study period, 974 participants were newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The higher the symptom scores of the participants, the more likely they were to be diagnosed with diabetes. After the researchers took diabetes risk factors (such as hypertension, obesity, and physical inactivity) into account, the risk of getting newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes increased by 2 percent for every single unit increase in the symptom score. So, for example, compared to somebody with a score of five, a person with a score of 11 would have a 12 percent higher risk of becoming a diabetic.

A Warning of Poor Health, Inflammation, and Diabetes Down the Road?

The researchers concluded that this particular array of non-specific symptoms—stomach or bowel pain, back pain, pain in the joints, headaches or pressure in the head, temporary shortness of breath, dizziness, feeling tired, and insomnia—may be considered as possible prediabetic symptoms that warn of diabetes a long ways down the road.

They hypothesized that chronic, low-grade, body-wide inflammation is the common link between these prediabetes symptoms and other established diabetes risk factors such as obesity, physical inactivity, and high blood pressure.

What to Do if You Suffer from These Prediabetic Symptoms

If you suffer from the majority of these prediabetic symptoms and you haven’t had recent lab tests to check for prediabetes, you could be at risk. Visit with your healthcare provider soon and ask to be screened for prediabetes with tests for fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and hemoglobin A1c (which measures your average blood sugar levels over the last few weeks). The presence of this combination of symptoms can be used as a warning signal that some diet and lifestyle adjustments to reduce your risk of diabetes and other chronic diseases may be in order.

A good place to start would be working to reduce your consumption of refined sugars and grains. Avoid sweetened beverages altogether and greatly cut down on foods with added sugars and refined flours. Your health depends on it.

Read more about diabetes prevention and care in these articles:

• Cinnamon and Diabetes: Clearing the Confusion
• Support Your Diabetes Care with an ALA Supplement
• Benefits of Taking Zinc for Diabetes: Natural Blood Sugar Control and More

Share Your Experience

Do you have prediabetes symptoms? If you are diabetic, did you notice any of these symptoms before your diagnosis? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

This article was originally published in 2015. It is regularly updated.

BMC Endocrine Disorders. 2014;14:87.

The post 8 Recently Discovered Prediabetic Symptoms You Can Identify Yourself appeared first on University Health News.

The Right Exercise

The 55 exercises in Chapter 4 have been proven by evidence-based studies to help a person increase strength and/or power. All you have to do is choose exercises designed to help you achieve your resistance training objectives for the upper body, lower body, core, or all three. More specifically, select exercises that involve the major muscle groups—arms, shoulders, chest, back, abdominals/core/trunk, and legs—but not at the same time.

The Right Load

The right load is a weight you can comfortably lift 8-12 times, although you should start to feel fatigue while executing the last two repetitions. Once 8-12 repetitions do not present a challenge, gradually increase the number of repetitions (up to 15), the number of sets (up to 4), or the amount of weight (but only 2-3 pounds at a time. Never dramatically increase exercise frequency, intensity, or number of repetitions.

The Right Technique

The most common mistake regarding resistance training technique is to ignore it. Each exercise has its own rules regarding technique, but a few guidelines apply to almost every exercise. A list of those guidelines appears in Chapter 4, but the message to remember is that resistance training is more than just lifting, pushing, or pulling a weight. Correct technique ensures that you get the most out of each exercise and that you get the benefit safely.

The Right Person

The right person is you, but with qualifications. Is the exercise age-appropriate? At age 20, high-intensity, high-speed power lifting exercises may be totally appropriate for a well-conditioned exerciser. At age 40, 50, 60, or beyond, there are better and safer ways to achieve more strength and power.

Is the exercise body-type appropriate? By now, you may have noticed that you are simply more comfortable executing certain lifts or movements with certain types of equipment. For example, working with dumbbells can be just as productive as working with barbells, kettlebells, or weight machines.

It is possible to maintain or increase strength with body weight exercises only, but it’s a boring type of exercise for many people. Also, it’s not a case of one type of exercise being better than another, but rather finding the one (or ones) that work best for you.

• Has the new or more challenging resistance training program been approved by your doctor? Among the issues that might prohibit or limit certain exercises are:
• History of heart disease
• History of respiratory conditions
• Surgical or musculoskeletal problems that might be aggravated
• Diabetes
• Hernia
• Any other physical or health issue about which you are concerned
• Current use of prescription medications
• A sedentary lifestyle, although as an intermediate or advanced resistance training exerciser, this shouldn’t be an issue

Warm up to Loosen up

It’s why golfers take practice swings before teeing off, why baseball players play catch and take batting practice before a game, and why you should warm up before beginning a set of exercises. The science has changed the way warm-ups should be conducted, but the basic principle is the same: Warm up to loosen up.

Don’t Stretch First

A sure way to injury is to stretch a cold muscle or muscle group as far as possible. Start slowly with exercises such as walking (on or off a treadmill) or riding a stationary bicycle with the goal of breaking a sweat, elevating your heart rate, and increasing blood circulation. You also can get a head start by taking a warm shower or using a heating pad to ease joint stiffness.

Foam rollers are a standard piece of warm-up equipment. A study in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research found that foam rollers can loosen muscle tissue and “work the knots out.” They are inexpensive and act as a self-massage.

The least technical and most practical way to warm up is called ballistic stretching. It means using the movements you will employ during the actual exercise to be performed, but at a slower, easier pace with lighter resistance. For example, lift just the bar before performing barbell curls or presses. If push-ups are on your schedule, do a few push-ups against a wall before supporting your body weight on the floor.

Now You Can Stretch

After breaking a sweat, stretching exercises should focus on muscles of the upper body, lower body, and core muscles to be used during the strength training session. Here are two stretches for each of the three areas.

Don’t Just Walk Away

Take a few minutes to cool down after an intense session. It helps you avoid the risk of a sudden drop in blood pressure and allows your heart rate to return to normal in a controlled manner. A general guideline is to cool down until your heart rate drops below 120 beats per minute, but that number does not take into consideration individual differences or target heart rates.

Cool-down strategies include riding an exercise bike, stretching the muscles that have been stressed during weight training, and repeating your strength training exercises at a much lower weight.

Risk of Injury

The benefits of exercise in general and resistance training in particular have been well documented, but there is a risk of injury. The injury may be painful or inconvenient, but in the vast majority of cases it is treatable and preventable.

Two Types of Muscle Soreness

• Acute muscle soreness is the type of pain that develops during a physical activity when a person is not used to a particular type of exercise, the exercise intensity, or exercise duration. Warming up, gradually increasing exercise intensity, and not overdoing it should minimize the problem.
• Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DMOS) is a different condition that involves an activity that puts unaccustomed loads on muscles. It is less common than acute muscle soreness and indicates that muscle tissues have been stressed beyond their normal capacity. DMOS typically begins to develop 12-24 hours after an exercise session and may last for a couple of days, but it is not a serious condition. The symptoms go away with rest.

Muscle Strain

The most common injury related to exercise is likely to be a pulled muscle—a muscle strain caused by not warming up, sudden or unusual movements, fatigue, poor technique, or too many repetitions. It’s possible to strain a muscle in any part of the body, but the lower back is often a weak spot.

Lower Back

Considering the long-term problems associated with other types of back problems, a pulled muscle is by far the least serious, even though it feels as bad at first as the others.

How it Happens

Back strains—tears in muscles, tendons, or ligaments—occur after sudden or awkward movements, when lifting or moving a heavy object, or absorbing a heavy or unexpected blow. Sometimes, back strains are triggered by seemingly harmless movements, such as bending over to tie a shoe, picking up a child, or reaching up to get something off a shelf.

These strains are believed to be caused by poor activation of core muscles that provide stability and joint control for the spine. When they don’t work as they should because of poor muscle strength, a joint can slide too far and damage supporting structures.

Symptoms

• Sudden pain in the lower back
• Lower back muscle spasms
• Stiffness
• Tenderness

Get in touch with a doctor immediately if the pain is intense, spreads down one or both legs, causes weakness or numbness, or results from a fall or an impact to your back.

Treatment

• Rest your back for 24-48 hours, but do not stay completely immobile. Limited, mild movement is better than bed rest.
• Apply ice packs for 15-20 minutes, 3-4 times a day for the first 48-72 hours.
• Apply moist heat after the first 48-72 hours if it makes you more comfortable.
• Aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen may relieve pain. Aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen may relieve pain and reduce inflammation.

The American College of Physicians recommends using heat, massage, acupuncture, and spinal manipulation as first-line therapies for lower back pain.

Prevention

The directions for preventing a muscle strain, wherever it is in the body, parallel the instructions for performing resistance exercises. When lifting, keep your back as straight as possible and use your legs. Do not bend at the waist. Use a lower back support as a reminder to keep the pressure distributed evenly on the muscles of the lower back. Do not increase exercise intensity, frequency, or duration, more than 10 percent a week (and only add 2-3 pounds of increased weight load).

Strained back muscles can be excruciatingly painful, but you can shorten recovery time by being as active as possible, rather than sitting or lying in a somewhat comfortable position for long periods of time. Bed rest should be as brief as possible (1-3 days) because it can lead to a loss of muscle strength and may increase stiffness and pain.

A strained back muscle is an acute injury, but not one that is likely to cause long-term, chronic pain.

Herniated Disc vs Bulging Disc

A herniated disc is a tear in the outer portion of the fibrous ring surrounding a disc. Some of the soft material inside breaks up and pushes into the spinal canal. This material may or may not put pressure on a nerve. Anyone can develop a herniated disc, but older adults are especially susceptible.

How it Happens

A bulging disc is similar to having low air in a tire. Some of the cushion in the middle of the ring is lost, the disc collapses, and the fibrous ring bulges out, but it is “contained,” meaning that the fibrous ring has not been torn and the soft material is therefore not pushing into the spinal canal. A bulging disc is a normal phenomenon and generally does not cause symptoms unless it presses on the nerve roots.

A herniated disc is not usually associated with a specific traumatic event, but rather by wear and tear on the spine. It can be triggered with a simple activity such as bending over, lifting, or any activities that generate abdominal pressure. The pressure is transmitted to the disc, often in the lower vertebrae area. Prolonged sitting and repetitive lifting and twisting are risk factors, as is reduced muscle tone caused by a lack of physical activity.

Symptoms

• Lower back and/or leg pain
• Discomfort, numbness, and tingling that radiates from the buttocks to the toes
• Muscle weakness in the affected leg
• Muscle spasms
• Pain that worsens with walking, standing, coughing, sneezing, or straining with a bowel movement

The pain for both conditions goes away with or without treatment in up to a third of all cases, but the process can take weeks. And in both cases, the problem may persist or recur even if symptoms subside.

Treatment

The initial treatment is rest, ice, and anti-inflammatory or pain medications. Apply ice for the first 48-72 hours, and then switch to moist heat. There is increasing evidence that mild activity is better than complete or extended periods of bed rest.

Longer-term treatment includes physical therapy, medications, epidural steroid injections, and the use of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation devices (TENS units) that send electrical impulses into the area to reduce inflammation. An epidural steroid injection is a way of delivering the steroid medications around the compressed or irritated nerve root.

Evidence suggests that tissue engineering in the form of harvesting and reintroducing the body’s own stem cells may be a promising way to treat herniated discs in the lower back.

Only 1 percent of back pain patients require surgery, but it may be needed when the disc clearly will not heal by itself, when there is loss of bowel or bladder function, progressive leg or foot weakness, or an emergency situation. Surgery is performed to relieve pressure when something is pressing against a nerve or to strengthen and stabilize a weak area.

There is a 5 percent risk of a herniated disc recurring and a greater risk of future back pain, with or without surgery.

Prevention

Prevention is not always possible, but a systematic program of stretching and strengthening is a good place to start. Proper lifting and bending techniques will help avoid putting your back in a vulnerable position.

Warm up before lifting a heavy object. Bend at the knees instead of the waist. Keep your back straight. Maintain a wide stance. Test the load before you lift, and hold the load close to your body.

Shoulder Injuries

Shoulder pain is a common complaint among resistance exercisers who have been injured. More than 30 injuries and conditions cause shoulder pain, and most of them begin to develop between the ages of 40 to 60. The first is often rotator cuff tendinitis.

Tendinitis

Rotator cuff tendinitis is an inflammation of a tendon. The tendon becomes inflamed because it is being pinched. Tendinitis often develops along with impingement syndrome, which happens when a shoulder muscle, tendon, and bursa sac rub against the shoulder blade.

Tendinitis is a slow-developing injury associated with time, age, and overuse. Rotator cuff tendinitis is the mildest form of an overuse injury. In most cases, it is treatable and does not require surgery.

Symptoms

Pain at the top of the shoulder that extends down the outside of the arm is the most common symptom, and less severe pain may occur in the shoulder blade area.

Tendinitis is not usually associated with loss of motion or weakness, but when the pain is severe, movement may be restricted to protect the affected arm. Other symptoms include:

• Pain that increases with lifting or reaching, especially when it’s above the shoulder
• A clicking sound with overhead motion
• Pain that interferes with sleep
• Pain when reaching behind the back
• Loss of strength in the affected arm

Treatment

Stop, or at least limit, the movement causing pain. Continue the activity if you can modify the motion so that it doesn’t hurt. If it still hurts, stop altogether. Here are some suggestions:

• Ice three times a day for 20-minute periods
• Take over-the-counter, anti-inflammatory medications
• Do gentle stretches and exercises to maintain flexibility and strengthen the rotator cuff muscles.

If it is diagnosed and treated early, two or three weeks may be all the time needed for recovery. On rare occasions, surgery is needed to remove a bone spur, a chronically inflamed bursa, or a frayed portion of a ligament.

Prevention

There are no guarantees, but take time to warm up before strenuous exercise involving the shoulder, and cut back on the frequency and intensity of activities that put stress on the shoulder.

Exercises to strengthen and maintain range of motion (see Chapter 4) are additional ways to guard against injuries. The results of a study published in 2017 suggest that resistance training could result in less age-related tendon damage.

Talk with your doctor or physical therapist before beginning any strenuous exercise program. Be aware of symptoms and function when drawing the line between not enough and too much exercise. Symptoms tell you it hurts; function tells you an exercise is difficult to perform.

Rotator Cuff Tear

A small, partial tear of a rotator cuff muscle doesn’t necessarily result in a loss of motion in the shoulder joint. A large tear can affect one or more of the four tendons that make up the cuff. Minor tears are treatable without surgery. Severe damage might require it.

The same things that cause rotator cuff tendinitis—overuse, throwing, reaching, and trauma—can cause or lead to tears.

The more common cause is a gradual weakening of the tendon from years of use and misuse. People over age 40 constitute a particularly high-risk group for full-thickness tears. The overuse-plus-age combination is a formula for trouble. But, partial tears can happen at any age.

Symptoms

Beware of pain in front and on top of the shoulder that extends midway down the outside of the arm. Less often, there is pain around the shoulder blade, as well as a noticeable loss of motion and strength, clicking, grinding, or catching during an attempted overhead motion. It is particularly noticeable when lifting or reaching and when the arm is brought down from an elevated position.

Treatment

Stop or decrease the activity that requires the use of the over-the-shoulder movement. Then it’s ice, anti-inflammatory medication, and easy exercises to maintain flexibility.

Significant tears will require a diagnosis via an MRI, probably followed by surgery. Surgical procedures include removing a spur, bursa, frayed ligament, or damaged part of a tendon, or repairing a defective tendon. Arthroscopic superior capsule reconstruction is a surgical option for massive, irreparable tears.

One or more of these procedures are often done through arthroscopic surgery. Without it, there might be an initial period of improvement, but pain and loss of function are likely to return. Surgery is more effective if it is performed within 6-12 weeks after the tear.

Rehabilitation starts with passive range of motion exercises, followed by a gradually progressive strengthening program. Depending on the severity of the injury and the type of treatment, recovery takes as little as 3-4 months and as long as one year.

Prevention

Everyone has a limit to the duration, frequency, and intensity of movements that involve the shoulder. That limit should be understood and respected. When it is exceeded, an injury will occur.

The ways to prevent those injuries include regular exercise for strength and flexibility and warm-up exercises prior to participation. Some shoulder problems are caused by poor technique, either in the activities of daily living or in recreational activities.

Knee Injuries

A torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), a torn meniscus, and knee tendinitis are among the knee conditions that are possible, though not likely, among middle-aged and older adults who perform resistance training exercises.

Torn ACL

Half of ACL injuries occur in combination with damage to other structures in the knee. Most are caused by non-contact events and they can eventually lead to osteoarthritis (OA). The interval between an ACL injury and osteoarthritis symptoms is long—10-15 years on average and as long as 30 years.

Symptoms

• Popping sensation at the time of injury
• Pain deep in the knee
• Swelling
• Limited range of motion/extending affected leg
• Instability

Treatment

Immediate care is the usual rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE) protocol. If that doesn’t work, the next step is medical attention and physical therapy, with the goal of reducing swelling and pain, strengthening muscles that support the knee joint, getting full range of motion, and resuming normal activities.

If you’ve suffered extensive damage, ACL reconstruction may be the surgical option. For others, it’s braces and physical therapy.

Prevention

• Warm up before exercising
• Exercises that strengthen the hamstrings and quadriceps
• Exercises that improve balance
• Shoes that provide lateral support and don’t slip

Torn Meniscus

There are two menisci—one on the inside of the knee and one on the outside. They improve the fit between the two bones, act as a shock absorber, move lubricating fluid around the knee, and distribute the body’s load on the knee.

A torn meniscus can be the result of degeneration, injury, or trauma. Osteoarthritis in the knee is frequently associated with small degenerative meniscal tears.

Symptoms

Pain and (sometimes) swelling are among the first symptoms. The pain is usually on the inner or outer side of the knee, not around the kneecap. When the patient recalls a specific injury that led to the pain and swelling, the swelling often did not occur until the day after the injury. Swelling is not necessarily in the same area as the pain.

A torn meniscus also can cause catching or locking of the knee. Sometimes the knee is stuck in midrange for days at a time. The patient may be able to “unlock” the knee by bending and twisting it before trying to straighten it.

Some people with a torn meniscus can walk, stand, sit, and sleep without pain. Others find that the torn meniscus prevents them from participating comfortably in their usual daily activities.

Treatment

Self-management of meniscus tears begins with knee strengthening exercises for the quadriceps and over-the-counter medications for pain. Surgery is an option, but recent research is not as supportive of the procedure as it once was. It is a minimally invasive arthroscopic procedure in which the meniscus is either repaired or removed.

Although arthroscopically treating the torn meniscus may eliminate mechanical symptoms such as catching or locking, the non-mechanical symptoms of osteoarthritis—stiffness, achiness, weather-related pain—may persist. When that happens, the remaining options are periodic injections of corticosteroids or lubricating substances, partial knee replacement, or total knee replacement.

Prevention

• Warm up before exercising
• Shoes that provide lateral support and don’t slip
• Proper resistance training technique

Tendinitis

Patellar tendinitis is inflammation of the tendon that connects the kneecap to the shinbone. It is a classic overuse, repetitive motion injury that irritates the tendon.

In older adults, the problem is degeneration of the tendon that has occurred over a long period of time. It’s condition also is associated with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, and even diabetes.

Symptoms

The symptoms are front-of-the-knee pain and pain that is worse during physical activity, immediately after activity, or after prolonged sitting. The discomfort usually comes on gradually. Stiffness is especially noticeable in the morning and swelling is possible. Tendinitis may be mistaken for osteoarthritis.

Treatment

Tendinitis might go away with rest only, but if not, there are multiple treatment options: stretching and strengthening exercises, ice and/or heat, over-the-counter and prescription medications, a knee support, steroid injections, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, and in rare cases, surgery.

Prevention

• Stopping an activity that causes pain
• Exercises that strengthen the quadriceps
• Proper resistance training technique

Coming Up in Chapter 4

Fifty-five strength and power exercises with illustrations and instructions.

The post 3. Exercise Safety appeared first on University Health News.

But with prediabetes symptoms, they aren’t a reliable indicator of your condition because most of the time prediabetes offers up no telltale warning signs. Once you do experience symptoms, there’s a good chance you’ve already progressed to type 2 diabetes.

To thwart this progression and safeguard your cardiovascular health, take action now by changing your lifestyle, improving your overall health (a diabetic diet will help), and, if necessary, following your doctor’s recommendations regarding medical therapy.

Prediabetes Symptoms Are Silent

Some 15 to 30 percent of people with prediabetes symptoms progress to type 2 diabetes within five years if they fail to make appropriate lifestyle changes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes are diagnosed based on the following test results:

Test Results to Diagnose Prediabetes

• Fasting glucose test: 100–125 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL)
• Oral glucose tolerance test: 140–199 mg/dL
• Hemoglobin A1c: 5.7–6.4 percent

Test Results to Diagnose Type 2 Diabetes

• Fasting glucose test: 126 mg/dL or higher
• Oral glucose tolerance test: 200 mg/dL or higher
• Hemoglobin A1c: 6.5 percent or higher

Trouble is, unless you see your doctor and get tested, there’s no way to know for certain if you’re on the path to type 2 diabetes. That’s because prediabetes symptoms are virtually nonexistent. Rather, symptoms aren’t likely to occur until your blood-sugar levels fall into the realm of type 2 diabetes. At that point, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• Frequent urination
• Extreme thirst
• Hunger (despite eating)
• Severe fatigue
• Vision problems
• Slow-healing wounds
• Tingling, pain, or numbness in the extremities

Cause for Concern

Type 2 diabetes is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease, heart attack, and stroke, as well as chronic kidney disease. Diabetes causes painful diabetic nerve damage (neuropathy), and diabetic retinopathy (a leading cause of blindness), and in men it can contribute to erectile dysfunction. Also, several research investigations have identified a link between diabetes and dementia.

Even if you haven’t advanced to type 2 diabetes, there’s still cause for concern: Some research suggests that the risk of these diabetes complications may already be elevated in people with prediabetes

Understand Your Risk

Although you’re unlikely to recognize prediabetes symptoms, there are plenty of factors to suggest you’re at higher risk of prediabetes. You should be particularly on the lookout for prediabetes if you have a parent or sibling who had type 2 diabetes, you’re physically inactive, or if you’re obese, especially if your waist circumference (measured at the navel) is greater than 40 inches for men and 35 inches for women. You also should watch out for pre-diabetes if you have high blood pressure, low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL, “good”) cholesterol, and high levels of triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood).

Talk to your physician about screening for prediabetes. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends screening for adults of any age who are overweight and have risk factors such as a family history of type 2 diabetes, a sedentary lifestyle, high blood pressure, low HDL cholesterol, and high triglycerides. If you have prediabetes, you should be checked for type 2 diabetes every year or two, according to the ADA.

Take Action

If you have prediabetes symptoms, losing 5 to 7 percent of your body weight with a healthful diet and exercise can reduce your risk of progressing to type 2 diabetes over the next three years by 31 percent, suggest results from the landmark Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) study. In comparison, the study participants who received the diabetes drug metformin reduced their risk of progression by 31 percent.

Based on the DPP results, experts generally recommend that people with prediabetes reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes by lowering their intake of fat and calories, following a heart-healthy diet, and engaging in 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity (such as walking) a day at least five days a week. (See also “Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms and Oral Medications.”) The ADA also recommends that doctors consider adding metformin to these lifestyle habits as an extra safeguard.

For further reading, see these University Health News posts:

• “What Causes Diabetes?“
• “Diabetes Symptoms: Do You Have Risk Factors?“
• “Prediabetes: Diet Advice That Can Keep You Healthy“

Originally published in 2016 and updated.

The post Prediabetes Symptoms: Are They a Reliable Indicator? appeared first on University Health News.

Sugar in Your Body

Your body converts carbohydrates in food to sugar, which your body’s cells use for energy. However, a sugar molecule cannot enter a cell on its own. It needs the hormone insulin to direct it. That’s where the pancreas comes in. The pancreas detects sugar in your blood and releases the appropriate amount of insulin to control the sugar. Insulin then either releases the sugar into the cells for immediate energy or sends it to the liver to store for future needs. However, sometimes insulin is unable to do its job.

When you take in more energy than your body requires—that is, you eat too much—your blood sugar level rises. Normally, the pancreas simply releases more insulin to handle the burden. But sometimes, that doesn’t work.

The Effects of Excess Sugar

Whether it’s due to a lack of available natural insulin (type 1 diabetes) or because your cells have become insulin-resistant (type 2 and gestational), the excess sugar in your blood begins destroying your body, leading to diabetic complications, including:

• Fatty liver disease
• Cardiovascular disease
• Hypertension
• Neuropathy
• Kidney disease
• Cancer

You may also experience such symptoms as further weight gain, fatigue, decreased cognitive function, and aging skin.

Causes of Diabetes: Type 1

Type 1 diabetes was called “juvenile diabetes” because it was largely the only type of diabetes children got (that is no longer the case). According to the American Diabetes Association, about 5 percent of people with diabetes have Type 1.

With type 1 diabetes, researchers believe the body’s immune cells attack the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, so the pancreas cannot release enough insulin to control your sugar. That’s why someone with type 1 diabetes needs insulin shots.

While type 1 diabetes is not fully preventable, as it has a genetic component, remember that obesity and a lack of exercise can significantly raise your risk.

Being overweight and leading a sedentary lifestyle are two common causes of diabetes.

Causes of Diabetes: Type 2

Type 2 diabetes was called “adult-onset diabetes.” Unfortunately, this is no longer the case. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2009, more than 20,000 children under age the age of 20 had diabetes, growing at a predicted rate of 5,000 more cases per year. Simply put, more children are obese and not getting sufficient exercise. According to the American Heart Association, the obesity rate in children has risen from 4 percent to 6 percent in the early 1970s to a whopping 18 percent in 2010.

The same causes for diabetes come into play for most adults with type 2 diabetes. Although genetics raise your risk factor for getting type 2 diabetes, overeating, consuming a diet high in carbohydrates, and not getting regular sufficient exercise are undisputed causes. Although it is believed to be fully preventable, the American Diabetes Association estimates that 9.3 percent of adults have diabetes.

In type 2 diabetes, your body’s cells are resistant to insulin, so the hormone is unable to adequately do its job regulating the sugar in your blood. Basically, you have enough insulin, but it’s impotent. As blood sugar goes on uncontrolled, insulin resistance worsens. Researchers have not yet determined why cells become insulin resistant.

Causes of Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes is usually temporary, caused by hormones in the placenta making the body’s cells resistant to insulin. Exactly why this occurs is not yet clear, but genetics, a poor diet, overeating, and a lack of exercise are strong causes. Gestational diabetes can result in pre-term birth, stillborn babies, and low blood sugar in infants.

Interesting research from Australia involving more than 60,000 births over a five-year period found that women carrying babies conceived in winter are more likely to experience gestational diabetes. The research was published in the journal BMJ Diabetes Research & Care in 2016.

“The mechanisms that cause gestational diabetes are still not fully understood,” lead author Petra Verburg, MD, says. “Previous studies have suggested that meteorological factors, physical activity, diet, and vitamin D are risk factors for gestational diabetes, all of which are impacted by the winter season.

“Not only should our results be confirmed in other populations,” Dr. Verburg adds, “future research should also investigate other factors that vary with season,” she says.

For further reading on diabetes and diabetes prevention, see the following University Health News posts:

• ”How Do You Get Diabetes?”
• ”How to Avoid Diabetes: 4 Steps to Take”
• “Diabetic Neuropathy: What It Means, How to Treat It”
• “Diabetes Symptoms in Women“

This article was originally published in 2017. It has since been updated.

The post Causes of Diabetes: What’s Behind the Growing Number of Cases appeared first on University Health News.

In people without diabetes, the pancreas produces the hormone insulin, which acts on the body’s cells, moving “sugar,” or glucose, from the blood into the cells, where it can be used for energy.

• In type 1 diabetes, the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells in the pancreas that produce the hormone insulin resulting in an insulin deficiency and therefore elevated blood glucose levels.
• In type 2 diabetes, the cells of the body become resistant to the effects of insulin and the pancreas cannot produce enough extra insulin to compensate for this resistance, resulting in high blood glucose levels.

According to the American Diabetes Association, studies have demonstrated that men are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes symptoms than women, although the reasons for this are unclear.

Men share many of the same risk factors for diabetes as women, including family history, the presence of autoantibodies, living in a colder climate, and possibly exposure to certain viral illnesses for type 1 diabetes and obesity or excess weight, older age, family history, race, sedentary lifestyle, high blood pressure, and abnormal cholesterol levels.

In addition, some researchers believe that diabetes symptoms in men increase with low testosterone levels, which increases the risk for developing insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes. Other scientists think low testosterone is a complication of type 2 diabetes. Either way, there is a definite link between the two with research demonstrating that men with type 2 diabetes are twice as likely to have low testosterone levels as men without diabetes.

Diabetes Symptoms in Men

While men experience many of the classic signs of diabetes that women experience such as increased thirst, increased urination, fatigue, and blurred vision, there are some diabetes symptoms in men that are unique.

• Erectile Dysfunction (ED): Men with diabetes are 2 to 3 times more likely to experience impotence or erectile dysfunction than men without diabetes. There is some evidence that suggests ED may be an early sign of diabetes in men 45 years old and younger. There are two possible causes of ED in men with diabetes. The body’s response to sexual stimuli is involuntary and mediated by nerves that are called autonomic nerves. Diabetes can damage these nerves leading to ED. Additionally, diabetes can also damage the blood vessels that allow an erection to occur resulting in ED. It is important to note that there are other causes of ED including some medications, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease. If you have diabetes and develop ED, you should consult with your healthcare provider to determine the cause.
• Retrograde ejaculation: In retrograde ejaculation some or all of a man’s semen enters the bladder instead of being released from the tip of the penis. This is caused by nerve damage that affects the internal muscles, also called sphincters, that normally prevent semen from entering the bladder. Retrograde ejaculation does not affect orgasm, but may cause fertility problems.
• Recurrent genital thrush: Elevated blood sugar levels can lead to increased yeast infections of the penis, resulting in redness, swelling, itchiness, and discharge around the head of the penis.
• Reduced lean muscle mass: Men with diabetes may experience a loss of lean muscle mass. This is particularly true for men with diabetes who also have low testosterone levels.

Metabolic syndrome–characterized by a pear-shaped or apple-shaped body type–is an early warning sign of pre-diabetes and diabetes.

Complications in Men with Diabetes

Men can suffer from many of the same complications of diabetes as women including heart disease, nerve damage or neuropathy, eye damage, kidney damage, and foot problems. Some studies have demonstrated that men with diabetes suffer from the complications of stroke and kidney disease more than women, but other studies have not demonstrated this. Men can also experience additional complications:

• Infertility: Men who suffer from retrograde ejaculation may have problems with fertility.
• Reduced libido: Men who suffer from low testosterone or erectile dysfunction may experience diminished interest in sex.

What Can Men Do to Avoid Diabetes Complications?

All people with diabetes are encouraged to maximize control of their blood glucose levels, adopt a healthy, balanced diet, increase their physical activity, and maintain a healthy weight to increase their odds of avoiding diabetes complications. In addition, men should consult with their urologist to discuss treatment options for symptoms like ED which can include medications, the use of pumps, and even surgery.

Men with retrograde ejaculation wishing to father a child can seek help from a urologist specializing in fertility issues who may be able to collect sperm from urine and utilize it for artificial insemination. Low testosterone levels can easily be treated with hormone injections, patches, or gels.

Knowing what causes diabetes, following your healthcare provider’s recommendations for diabetes management, understanding the signs of complications, and listening to your body so that you can identify symptoms of diabetes are all valuable steps any man with diabetes should take.