Diabetes, once considered a disease for the elderly, is on the rise among the current generation who have a penchant for spicy and sweet foods like Hot Cheetos and tanghulu.
According to statistics from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, the number of diabetics in their 30s was 121,568 as of 2020, a 25.5% increase from four years prior. The prevalence of diabetes among those in their 20s also showed a significant increase of about 47% during the same period.
When diagnosed with diabetes at a young age, the period of exposure to high blood sugar increases, which can heighten the risk of chronic vascular complications.
An even bigger problem is that 80% of diabetics in their 20s and 60% in their 30s are not aware of their conditions.
A young man in his 20s, shared his struggle complaining, “Does anyone else struggle with food coma? I feel so sleepy and tired 30 minutes after eating.” Advised to get a blood test, he visited the hospital and was diagnosed as being at risk for diabetes.
The young man warned, “My glycated hemoglobin level was 5.6, and 5.7 is considered prediabetic. Diabetes isn’t far away.”
Although it appears without special symptoms, diabetes is a scary disease that can damage the functions of your eyes and heart and prevent even minor wounds from healing. Moreover, since it’s a chronic, incurable disease, one must be careful if they want to continue enjoying their favorite foods with no worries.
Please refer to the following eight symptoms of prediabetes and start checking your eating habits.
1. Post-meal drowsiness
Food coma is one of the dangerous symptoms of diabetes.
Although everyone can experience drowsiness after eating, feeling overwhelmingly sleepy even after eating easily digestible food could be due to changes in blood sugar levels.
2. Numbness
People with high blood sugar levels experience poor blood circulation, which can reduce the supply of nutrients and oxygen to the cells. This can lead to numbness, trembling, and pain in the hands and feet.
3. Thirst
When excessive sugar is excreted through urine, the body can lose additional fluids. If you feel unusually thirsty, you might want to consider diabetes.
4. Intense hunger
Diabetics can experience intense hunger as glucose is not properly utilized as a sufficient source of energy.
Nevertheless, weight loss may still occur, which requires attention.
5. Fatigue
Similar to intense hunger, even if you eat a lot, glucose that should be used as an energy source is not absorbed into cells but instead excreted through urine, leading to easy fatigue.
6. Dark, patchy skin around the neck and armpits
Diabetes can cause a condition called acanthosis nigricans, characterized by dark and dry patches in areas like the neck, armpits, and groin. The skin can thicken or develop wart-like bumps.
7. Slow healing of wounds
High blood sugar levels can damage the nerves and blood vessels, leading to circulation problems. If even minor cuts or pricks take a long time to heal, it might be a sign of diabetes.
8. Frequent urination
The kidneys stimulate urination to lower blood sugar levels. If you find yourself frequently waking up at night to urinate, it could be an early sign of diabetes.
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