TV doctor Amir Khan has shared five key symptoms of a chronic disease to watch for
Dr Amir warned that feeling tired all the time could be a sign of a serious illness(Image: Getty)
A GP has warned people who feel “tired all the time” to get medical advice. It is one of the most “common” indicators of type 2 diabetes.
More than four million Brits are affected by diabetes, though experts believe many more could be living with the chronic condition that causes blood sugar levels to rise too high. The illness comes in two forms – type 1 and type 2.
Whilst the exact cause of type 1 diabetes remains unknown, type 2, which represents roughly 90 per cent of cases, can be triggered by lifestyle factors such as being overweight or obese and insufficient exercise. It can also run in families.
As with any illness, the earlier you recognise diabetes symptoms, the quicker you can access appropriate medical support. And whilst diabetes cannot be cured, treatments exist to help manage symptoms.
With this in mind, Doctor Amir Khan, who is widely recognised for his appearances on ITV, highlighted five warning signs of type 2 diabetes to watch for. He said: “Here are five signs you may have type 2 diabetes.
“Now type 2 diabetes is a complex condition where your insulin doesn’t work as well as it should do to keep your blood sugars in check. Now this can be due to a combination of lifestyle and genetic factors, but let’s get into five possible symptoms that you may be suffering from that could be a clue that you’ve got type 2 diabetes.”
Constant fatigue
Dr Amir described this as the “most common” indicator of diabetes. He explained: “Number one, tired all the time.
“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.”
Regular infections
He added: “If you’re not using those sugars, something else will. And that something else are bugs.
“Whether it’s urinary tract infections, thrush, or skin infections, these bugs love sugars to feed off and they thrive. Also, when your sugars are high, it has a negative effect on your immune system making it less effective at fighting off infections.”
Excessive urination
Dr Amir outlined: “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.
“It’s its own natural way of trying to get your sugars down, 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.”
Weight loss
“Now, many people link type 2 diabetes with being overweight,” he stated. “And although that is a risk factor, when your sugars are high and your insulin isn’t functioning to break them down and reduce it, your body starts breaking down those fats and proteins as I mentioned earlier, and you can end up with unexplained weight loss.”
Nerve pain
“We refer to this as peripheral neuropathy and it typically causes tingling, burning, or a painful sensation in your toes and feet. This is because high sugars can damage those tiny little nerves in your toes and the blood vessels that supply them with food and oxygen.
“And that makes it more difficult for them to transmit proper nerve impulses back to your brain and spinal cord, so you end up with those peculiar sensations.”
What to do if you have symptoms
Dr Amir added: “Now, if you have any of these symptoms, it’s worth getting a blood test to check for type 2 diabetes. It could be something else, but that’s one thing to look out for.
“And remember, some of the best ways to lower your risk of type 2 diabetes is to eat a healthy, balanced diet, full of plants. You’ve heard me say it before: move regularly, sleep well, and manage stress levels.”