Could you have diabetes and not know it?
Your eyes could help you find out.
Updated: 4:27 AM CDT Jul 2, 2020
Of the more than 30 million people in the U.S. who have diabetes, 1 in 4 doesn’t know he or she has it. The reason people are in the dark? The symptoms are easy to miss—either because they’re so mild that they go unnoticed or they’re written off as being related to something else. One person who may be able to spot problems with your blood sugar—even if you don’t have or notice symptoms—is your eye doctor. “Comprehensive eye exams often present an opening for eye doctors to detect signs of serious conditions related to eye health, and even systemic health, which may have few or no symptoms at the earliest, most treatable stages,” says Paul Chous, DO, FAAO, tk . The reason your eye doc may be able to spot diabetes early on is because the disease affects the blood vessels in the body. And the back of the eye, which is visible to your doc during an exam, is the only place to actually see the blood vessels. You likely already know some of the more common symptoms of diabetes such as fatigue, excessive thirst, urinating more frequently, and tingling or numbness in the hands and feet. Below are some sneakier symptoms that may mean you should schedule a visit with your doctor ASAP.Your vision is wonkyIf you find yourself squinting often to see things at a distance, diabetes could be to blame. High blood sugar can cause fluid to leak into the lens of the eye, making it swell and change shape. The result: blurry vision. An eye doctor can detect these changes and other signs of diabetes years before you notice symptoms, so it’s important to get a comprehensive eye exam annually. Early detection and treatment can reduce damage to your vision.Your skin is super itchyThe winter weather may not be the cause of your dry skin, especially if you’ve been dealing with it long before the first chill. High blood sugar, along with poor circulation and nerve damage caused by diabetes can cause your skin to become extremely dry and itchy.“Huh" is a staple in your vocabularyIf you’re constantly asking people to repeat themselves or needing to pump up the volume to hear the TV, you may tell yourself the person is mumbling or that the sound is just too low. However, changes in hearing may be related to diabetes. High blood sugar levels can damage the small blood vessels and nerves in the inner ear, making it more difficult for you to hear.Your breath smells badHigh glucose levels can cause infection, pain and other issues that affect your teeth, tongue, gums and jaw. A bad taste in your mouth, bad breath or other mouth problems may be a warning that your blood sugar is too high.You have frequent yeast infectionsDiabetes can throw off things in your nether regions. Yeast loves to eat sugar. If your blood glucose levels are constantly elevated, it can cause yeast to overgrow. As a result, you may experience frequent, sometimes hard-to-treat, yeast infections. Your sex life is differentAnother little-discussed symptom of diabetes is problems in the bedroom. Diabetes can reduce blood flow to the genital area or cause nerve damage, which can make you less interested in sex or cause vaginal dryness or pain. If your sex drive is lower than usual, or you experience frequent dryness or pain, discuss it with your doctor. Can we/VSP slightly edit this for a better fit? Maybe “Comprehensive eye exams present an opening for eye doctors to detect signs of serious conditions related to eye health, and systemic health including diabetes, which may have few or no symptoms at the earliest, most treatable stages,” says Paul Chous, DO, FAAO, . Need Dr. Chous’ affiliation with VSP Got this info from the VSP website. https://www.vsp.com/eyewear-wellness/ask-eye-doctor/eye-exams-diabetes-detection
Of the more than who have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, 1 in 4 people don't know they have it. Why are they in the dark? The symptoms are easy to miss — either because they’re so mild that they go unnoticed or they’re written off as being related to something else.
You likely already know some of the more common symptoms of type 1 and type 2 diabetes such as fatigue, excessive thirst, urinating more frequently and tingling or numbness in the hands and feet. But there is a whole other list of sneakier symptoms that make early detection of diabetes a major challenge.
Many people have diabetes for years without knowing it because early symptoms can be so easy to miss. Gabriela Olivares, says that’s why an annual comprehensive eye exam is critical for prevention and early detection of the disease. Diabetes in the back of your eye, which your eye doctor can see during an eye exam — often times long before you ever even experience other symptoms.
Below are easy-to-miss symptoms that could mean there’s something more going on with your health.
1
Your vision is wonky
If you notice fluctuations in your vision, diabetes could be to blame. According to Dr. Olivares, changes in sugar levels can lead to shifts and changes in your prescription. “The higher the blood sugar, the more myopic the patient,” says Dr. Olivares. High blood sugar into the lens of the eye, making it swell and change shape. The result: blurry and otherwise compromised vision.
2
"Huh?" is a staple in your vocabulary
If you’re constantly asking people to repeat themselves or needing to pump up the volume to hear the TV, you may tell yourself the person is mumbling or that the sound is just too low. However, changes in hearing may be related to diabetes. High blood sugar levels in the inner ear, making it more difficult for you to hear.
3
Your skin is super-itchy
The winter weather may not be the cause of your dry skin—especially if you’ve been dealing with it long before the first chill.
High blood sugar, along with poor circulation and nerve damage caused by diabetes to become extremely dry and itchy.
4
Your breath smells bad
High glucose levels can cause infection, pain and other issues that affect your teeth, tongue, gums and jaw. A bad taste in your mouth, bad breath or other mouth problems may be a warning that your .
