5 signs you're pre-diabetic – according to sufferer in remission

A man in remission from type 2 diabetes is raising awareness on how to spot the early signs of being pre-diabetic. According to the NHS in the UK, Type 2 diabetes arises when insulin—a hormone that regulates blood sugar—doesn't function as it should or is in short supply, leading to elevated glucose levels in the bloodstream. Insulin is crucial for transferring glucose into your cells for energy.

Insufficient insulin results in too much glucose remaining in the blood, which may lead to serious health issues like heart and kidney disease, strokes, or nerve damage. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Therefore, recognizing the signs early is key to preventing these health complications. Sharing his own experiences and advice on TikTok via his @_missionremission_ account, the man serves as a guidepost for those navigating diabetes, providing insight and personal updates.



He has recently posted a video detailing "five signs you're nearly diabetic," referring to what's medically considered as non-diabetic hyperglycaemia. The NHS clarifies that quite a few individuals have blood sugar levels that exceed the norm but aren't sufficiently high to amount to a diabetes diagnosis. This state is termed non-diabetic hyperglycaemia, also known as pre-diabetes.

Individuals with pre-diabetes face an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, but the danger can be mitigated with changes in lifestyle. Given this, @_missionremission_ is keen on alerting people to the signs to be aware of - they might not necessarily indicate type 2 diabetes, but they signal a need for medical consultation. 1.

Hunger If you find yourself "always hungry and always craving sugary stuff and salty food," this could be a signal from your body that you're on the brink of becoming pre-diabetic. When insulin resistance causes blood sugar levels to swing, the body might send out an SOS for quick energy fixes like sugar to swiftly elevate glucose levels. Plus, any imbalance in hunger-controlling hormones like leptin and ghrelin can ramp up these cravings.

2. Vision changes If you're "starting to get blurry vision," this could be a red flag for type 2 diabetes. Those with type 2 diabetes may experience blurred vision due to blood sugar level fluctuations, which can alter the shape and flexibility of the eye's lens.

When blood sugar levels skyrocket, excess glucose can pile up in the lens, drawing in water and causing the lens to swell or distort. This messes with the lens's ability to focus light correctly onto the retina, resulting in blurry vision. Moreover, chronic high blood sugar levels can wreak havoc on the blood vessels in the retina, leading to a condition known as diabetic retinopathy.

This damage can cause the retina to swell, leak, or sprout abnormal blood vessels, further exacerbating vision issues, including blurriness. In some instances, the glucose-induced damage might also heighten the risk of other eye conditions such as cataracts or glaucoma, which can amplify visual disturbances. 3.

Tingling sensations in the body If you're experiencing "tingling sensations, numbness, or pain around your body", particularly "in the feet or the hands", it could be an early warning sign of pre-diabetes. Those with type 2 diabetes often report such sensations due to a condition known as diabetic neuropathy. This is a result of sustained high blood sugar levels over time damaging nerves, especially those in the peripheral nervous system, which includes nerves in the hands, feet, arms, and legs.

Elevated blood sugar disrupts normal nerve function by interfering with blood flow to the nerves and triggering inflammation, oxidative stress, and other harmful changes. This nerve damage manifests as symptoms like tingling, numbness, burning, or pain - sensations that many diabetes patients find uncomfortable or even incapacitating. Tingling is most frequently observed in the extremities (feet and hands) and tends to worsen when diabetes is poorly managed or has been untreated for several years.

However, effective blood sugar control and early intervention can mitigate or delay the risk of nerve damage and associated symptoms. 4. Falling ill easily If you "fall sick or get infections really quickly and really easily all the time", this could also indicate pre-diabetes.

He pointed out that this could manifest as "oral infections or respiratory infections like colds, coughs, that sort of thing". Individuals with type 2 diabetes are more susceptible to falling ill due to their body's compromised ability to regulate blood sugar levels. Elevated blood sugar can undermine the immune system, making it tougher for the body to ward off infections and diseases.

5. Thirst If you find yourself perpetually parched and unable to quench your thirst, this could be a red flag. Excessive thirst, medically termed as polydipsia, is a common symptom among those with type 2 diabetes, triggered by high blood sugar levels in the body.

When these levels spike, the kidneys struggle to filter and reabsorb the surplus glucose efficiently. Consequently, glucose gets expelled into the urine, drawing additional water from the body through a process known as osmotic diuresis. This results in increased urination, which can rapidly dehydrate the body and induce thirst.

The body then signals for more water intake to compensate for the fluid loss and to dilute the high blood sugar levels in the bloodstream, creating a cycle of thirst and frequent urination. He further explained: "So you're not diabetic yet because your blood glucose levels are normal, but your insulin levels are high, and high insulin levels in your body are the root cause of showing that you are approaching diabetes. "Even if you were type 2 diabetic, the problem is there's too much insulin in your body.

You're resistant to your own insulin. It's no longer able to control your blood sugar and keep it at the level it should be". How to reverse type 2 diabetes The NHS suggests: try to eat a healthy diet including fruit, vegetables, wholegrain foods such as wholemeal bread and oats, and pulses such as chickpeas and lentils improve your diet slowly if you're finding it difficult – a small change every week can make it easier talk to a GP or diabetes nurse if you're finding it hard to change your diet, as they may be able to find support in your local area try to spend at least 2.

5 hours (across the whole week) either walking or doing another activity that leaves you out of breath try to lose weight if you've been told you're overweight stop smoking – having diabetes increases the harmful effects of smoking try to limit how much alcohol you drink have regular dental check-ups to help prevent gum disease They also say: do not eat too much processed foods with lots of salt and sugar – this may include things like bacon, chips, cheese, sweets and biscuits do not change to a very strict, low-calorie diet without talking to a health professional first – this type of diet may not be suitable if you're taking insulin or other diabetes medicine If you feel like you may have type 2 diabetes or may be pre-diabetic, make an appointment to see a doctor..