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Diabetes is a common condition that affects more than four million people in the UK, and 90 percent of all cases are caused by type 2 diabetes. You could be at risk of high blood sugar if you start to lose weight without trying to, it’s been claimed.
Type 2 diabetes could be caused by the body not producing enough of the hormone insulin, or the body not reacting to insulin.
Without enough of the hormone, the body struggled to convert sugar in the blood into useable energy.
It’s crucial that if you think you may have diabetes, you speak to a doctor as soon as possible.
One of the key warning signs of high blood sugar is unexplained weight loss.
Weight loss is one of the major warning signs of an underlying medical condition.
It’s normal to lose a few pounds here and there, especially if you’re following a weight loss diet plan.
But losing more than five percent of your bodyweight without any obvious explanation could be caused by diabetes.
Diabetes patients are more at risk of weight loss as the body starts to burn fat and muscle for energy, in the absence of insulin.
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“Unexplained weight loss is the term used to describe a decrease in body weight that occurs unintentionally and can be a warning sign of diabetes,” said medical website Diabetes.co.uk.
“In people with diabetes, insufficient insulin prevents the body from getting glucose from the blood into the body’s cells to use as energy.
“When this occurs, the body starts burning fat and muscle for energy, causing a reduction in overall body weight.
“Unexpected weight loss is often noticed in people prior to a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes but it may also affect people with type 2 diabetes.”
But just because you start losing weight, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have diabetes.
It could also be caused by certain medications, dental problems, or even rheumatoid arthritis.
You should speak to a doctor if you lose more than five percent of your bodyweight over a short period of time.
Weight loss may be more serious if it’s accompanied by any other symptoms, including tiredness, or a loss of appetite.
Meanwhile, common diabetes symptoms include having cuts or wounds that take longer to heal, having an unquenchable thirst, and passing more urine than normal.
But many people may have diabetes without even knowing it, because the signs and symptoms don’t necessarily make you feel unwell.
You should speak to a doctor if you’re worried about the warning signs or symptoms of diabetes, or if you think you may be at risk.
Diagnosing the condition early is very important, because patients are more at risk of some deadly complications, including heart disease and strokes.
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