Eight red-flag signs you are probably prediabetic and what to do about it
Prediabetes is a condition that can be tackled and even undone with serious work and lifestyle changes
People with diabetes have to monitor their blood sugar levels
(Image: Halfpoint via Getty Images )
Type 2 diabetes is a widespread condition in the UK, as millions of people live with it. However, if you've been identified as prediabetic by a doctor, there are ways to prevent and even 'reverse' the issue before it gets worse.
Prediabetes, also known as non-diabetic hyperglycaemia, is a state where your blood sugar levels are above normal but not high enough for a type 2 diabetes diagnosis. It's a significant health concern that increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
Prediabetes often doesn't present itself with any symptoms, meaning it can sometimes progress into the diabetic range before it's detected in some people. But there are a few warning signs to be aware of that could indicate a problem.
The Mayo Clinic suggests there are several signs throughout your body that might help you identify what to discuss with a doctor. The list includes:
Increased thirst and frequent urination: When blood sugar levels are high, the kidneys work harder to filter excess glucose. Fatigue: Fluctuating blood sugar levels can cause fatigue. Blurred vision: Changes in blood sugar levels can cause blurred vision. Increased hunger: Also known as polyphagia, this is a common symptom of prediabetes. Unexplained weight loss: Even if you're eating more, this can be an early warning sign of prediabetes. Slow healing of cuts and wounds: High blood sugar levels can damage nerves and blood vessels, impairing blood circulation. Darkened skin: This can appear on the neck, armpits, and groin. Skin tags: While harmless, having many skin tags may be a sign of type 2 diabetes.
The NHS has warned that one symptom of diabetes can affect the eyes
(Image: PeopleImages via Getty Images )
Article continues below
The exact cause of prediabetes remains unknown, but family history and genetics seem to play a crucial role. The only way to determine if you have prediabetes is through a blood test administered by your doctor, reports Surrey Live.
The NHS Health Check, offered to adults aged 40-74, includes a diabetes risk assessment and can help detect early signs of type 2 diabetes. If you're in this age group and haven't had a check in the last 5 years, you should be invited for one.
If you become aware of the condition and make certain lifestyle changes, you may be able to lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This involves losing weight, eating healthily, exercising regularly, drinking plenty of water, getting sufficient sleep, limiting alcohol, quitting smoking (where it applies) and cutting back on sugars.
Other actions you can take include:
Avoiding excessive intake of added sugars by limiting sugary beverages, cakes, cookies, sweets and snacks.
Limiting portion sizes of refined carbohydrate foods such as white bread, white rice and white pasta.
Incorporating fibre to reach a goal of 25 to 30 grams per day by eating a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
Limiting saturated fats by choosing lean protein and low-fat dairy.
Feeling more thirsty than usual can be a warning sign of diabetes
(Image: Westend61 via Getty Images )
The aim of these actions are to control blood sugar levels until medication becomes unnecessary. This is commonly referred to as Type 2 diabetes remission - when your blood sugar levels fall below the diabetes range and you no longer require medication such as insulin.
The NHS spends at least £10 billion a year on diabetes which is about 10% of its entire budget. Almost 80% of the money the NHS spends on diabetes is on treating complications. If you require assistance and support with this process, a useful guide is available on the Diabetes UK website. You can access it online here.
What is the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes?
Type 1 and type 2 diabetes both involve elevated blood sugar levels, but they have distinct causes and ways the body manages insulin. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the immune system wrongly targets and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, leading to minimal or no insulin production.
On the other hand, type 2 diabetes is characterised by insulin resistance, meaning that cells fail to respond effectively to insulin, and the pancreas might not generate sufficient insulin to counteract this resistance.
Article continues below
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
STV News
an hour ago
- STV News
Drug linked to cancer given to mothers years after supposed ban, ITV News finds
Up to 300,000 women are thought to have been prescribed Stilbestrol over four decades, as ITV News Social Affairs Correspondent Sarah Corker reports ITV News has discovered new evidence that a dangerous drug linked to cancer was given to mothers nearly a decade after it was supposed to have been banned. Now, in a major development, the Health Secretary Wes Streeting confirmed the government is considering enhanced cancer screening for those impacted by the use of Stilbestrol, also known as DES, and has vowed to 'look seriously at these allegations.' What is DES? Stilbestrol, also known as DES, was prescribed on the NHS to prevent miscarriage and to stop breast milk production from 1939 until the late 1970s. Marketed as a 'wonder drug' – a synthetic form of female hormone oestrogen – it has become one of the biggest drug disasters in the NHS's history. ITV News can reveal that doctors, regulators, and successive governments failed to act and protect women from the dangers. Other countries around the world, such as the United States, banned the drug in the 1970s as scientific studies linked the use of DES with breast, cervical, and vaginal cancers. In the UK, health authorities failed to do the same. The UK government claimed that in 1973, a letter was sent to all doctors telling them to stop using DES for pre-menopausal women, but ITV News has found dozens of women who say they were given it after that date, some as late as 1980. Susan Miller, 73, from London, believes she was given the drug in 1975 after the birth of her daughter to stop her breast milk – that is two years after the government said GPs were told to stop prescribing the drug. She recalls questioning the doctor about the drug's side effects whilst on the maternity ward, but told ITV News those concerns were dismissed. 'I was lied to. It's absolutely disgusting. I should have never been given the drug. It's ruined so many people's lives.' It's estimated that up to 300,000 women were prescribed Stilbestrol over four decades. Mrs Miller is among more than 200 people who have contacted ITV News after seeing our ongoing DES investigation. 'It's not just me, it's other women as well. They are walking around with time bombs in their breasts, because they don't even know, so they can't even get checked,' she said. The mother of one believes the effect on her health has been devastating. She's survived blood cancer but now has an aggressive form of breast cancer and is undergoing treatment. Stilbestrol was prescribed on the NHS to prevent miscarriage and to stop breast milk production from 1939 until the late 1970s. / Credit: Research suggests that DES mothers may have a 30% higher risk of breast cancer. If the drug was taken while pregnant, the harm can be passed down through the generations. Daughters exposed in the womb are at increased risk of clear cell cancer of the cervix and vagina and reproductive abnormalities. Despite the known increased risks, successive governments have failed to introduce enhanced screening, which women say would be 'lifesaving.' ITV News has also spoken to former midwives who recall administering DES on maternity wards as late as 1979, and doctors who later treated women with aggressive forms of cancer which have since been linked to DES exposure. 'Massive regulatory failure' In 1971, US scientists proved DES was unsafe for use on pre-menopausal women. The medicines watchdog, the MHRA, repeatedly told ITV News that in May 1973, 'the Committee on Safety of Medicines wrote to all doctors to advise against the use of DES in pregnancy and women who have not yet gone through menopause.' No evidence of that letter can be found. A series of Freedom of Information requests and internal reviews from ITV News to the MHRA were rejected. Our team has searched through hundreds of pages of public health records at the British Library and National Archives, and there is no evidence of that 1973 letter. In fact, there is no evidence to show that DES was withdrawn or restricted, despite mounting evidence of the drug's sinister side effects. Dr Sonia Macleod, from Oxford University and an expert on pharmaceutical safety, said, 'There are clear indications that more could and should have been done by the regulators at the time, and if you look at it in this way, that becomes a regulatory failure.' Dr Macleod believes the government bears ultimate responsibility for the impact on women. 'I think women have been hugely failed in the UK, and particularly because this was a drug that was developed through government funding,' she said. 'There must be accountability and responsibility. Compensation should come from the government. The impacts are horrendous and have been ignored and unseen. It is so wrong,' she said. Dr Sonia Macleod, from Oxford University and an expert on pharmaceutical safety. On the south coast in Bognor Regis, Mary Jarman believes she was given DES in 1977, years after warnings about the drug. Then aged 19, she was prescribed the pills by her GP to stop her breast milk after giving birth prematurely. Ms Jarman later suffered a severe reaction, resulting in emergency breast surgery. 'It was a drug that nobody should have had, and they realised what it was doing, they should have stopped it. But I think because I had an old family doctor, they just kept handing it out,' she said. Decades later, in her 40s, she developed cervical cancer and had a full hysterectomy. 'If that has caused all the trouble, now I can understand I wasn't just unlucky to have all those women's problems, it was all connected.' Mary Jarman believes she was given DES in 1977, years after warnings about the drug. Poor NHS record keeping and the casual way DES was given out means women may never know for sure what they were exposed to or the long-term impact it has had. There are growing calls for a nationwide investigation. There has still been no attempt to trace and inform those exposed to this dangerous drug, and limited research into the long-term health implications. While thousands of DES victims have sued pharmaceutical companies in the US, France, and the Netherlands, there have been no successful cases in the UK. In response to our investigation, Dr Alison Cave, MHRA Chief Safety Officer, said: 'We express our sympathies with those harmed by the historic use of Diethylstilbestrol (DES). 'We are continuing to invest significant resources to locate historical documentation relating to regulatory decisions on DES made in the 1970s, over 50 years ago. Due to the age and format of the records, this is a complex and time-consuming process. 'We are living now in a different regulatory era….Today, the requirement for patients to be directly provided with information about their medicine is underpinned by legislation.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said the Secretary of State has been clear that he will look seriously at these allegations. Health Secretary, Wes Streeting. For more information or support about the issues raised in this report, visit: Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Glasgow Times
Fundraiser for Gasgow DJ Keith McIvor after diagnosis
Keith, one half of the pioneering DJ duo Optimo, was recently diagnosed with glioblastoma—an aggressive, inoperable and untreatable form of brain cancer. His condition has rapidly progressed, affecting his speech, mobility, and independence, and he now requires 24-hour nursing care. READ MORE: Glasgow DJ Keith McIvor has reveals brain tumour battle The fundraiser was created in response to a wave of messages from friends, fans and supporters worldwide, many of whom have asked how they can help. While Keith's family and close friends emphasise they expect nothing, the campaign is offering a way for supporters to make a direct impact in his final weeks. The organisers explain: 'We've held off to explore every option. "But now believe this crowdfunder is the most concrete and transparent way to channel people's goodwill.' The fundraiser has so far surpassed the halfway mark of their goal with a current total of £26,738. The family made the difficult decision to move Keith into a private residential nursing facility. This environment currently offers him the best quality of life, with full support from his GP. While still able to communicate with patience and support, and not in pain, Keith is now extremely vulnerable, unable to walk unaided and dependent on others for his safety and care. READ MORE: Still Game icon spotted at TRNSMT – and was buzzing to see this one huge act Efforts are still being made to explore alternative accommodation with a full care package, but organisers say that establishing this in time has been stressful, complex, and logistically challenging. The fundraiser's initial goal is to support 8 to 12 weeks of respite care. Immediate funding will go towards: Private nursing care, where Keith is currently being looked after. Physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, and counselling; Accessible transport, equipment, and other palliative care essentials. If funds allow, future support may include: Setting up accessible private accommodation; Securing a long-term full private care package; Exploring non-NHS treatment options, should any viable therapies emerge. Organisers also stress that 20% income tax and platform fees apply to all donations, as this is a personal fundraiser rather than a registered charity campaign. The crowdfunder highlights the emotional and practical toll on Keith's family, especially his wife, who lives with her own serious long-term health conditions and has cancelled major surgery to remain by his side. The campaign states: 'Navigating this situation has been incredibly hard. 'We know we're fortunate to even have private care as an option and realise this is a very privileged position to be in. "We're painfully aware that access to safe, appropriate end-of-life care is often out of reach for so many families — and we believe this is a failing of the system, not of those needing care.' READ MORE: Nearly 10 roads to close for 'extra special' event taking place in Glasgow Keith McIvor is best known for helping shape Glasgow's electronic music scene over two decades through Optimo and their legendary Sub Club night. Known for his fearless musical experimentation and community-driven ethos, Keith remains a beloved figure in the global music scene. If more money is raised than needed, the remaining balance will be donated equally to causes close to Keith's heart: Glasgow NW Foodbank Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights (CRER) Brains Trust Taki's Shelter, an animal rescue organisation in Crete The crowdfunding concluded: 'We still hope that Keith can look forward to many happy days ahead. 'In comfort and with his loved ones — to live out the remainder of his life in dignity, surrounded by support and good vibes flowing toward him.' The fundraising page can be found here.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Nurse, 30, had common weight loss jab side effect... in fact it was a sign of deadly cancer
An NHS nurse diagnosed with an aggressive form of stomach cancer at just 28, has revealed how heartburn—which was exacerbated by taking a weight loss jab—was her only symptom. Chloe, now 30, said she had suffered intermittent heartburn since the middle of 2022, about two years before she was diagnosed with the cancer in March last year. In a series of clips on TikTok Chloe said she initially assumed her heartburn was due to a poor diet, noting episodes seemed to be triggered by greasy food and drinking alcohol. However, she noticed her symptoms got far worse after she was prescribed a weight loss jab in November 2023. 'When I was taking that I noticed that the reflux had got a bit worse and I was getting a bit of pain in my sternum that was going through to my back,' she said. 'I had the first dose and my heartburn was horrific that week. 'It was almost this spasm sensation that I was getting.' She added that the pain was so bad she eventually went to A&E for help, and this was when she first suspected something was more seriously wrong with her stomach than simple heartburn. However, she added that: 'As soon as I stopped taking the injections that all went away.' Heartburn is a common side effect of weight loss jabs affecting one in 10 patients taking Mounjaro as well a tenth of those the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, semaglutide. It was only in January 2024 when Chole went for an endoscopy—where a flexible camera is inserted down the throat and into the stomach—ton investigate her persistent heartburn that medics found traces of something more serious. Images showed what medics initially thought was the remains of an ulcer—an open sore in the stomach—that had since started to heal. Samples taken at the time also confirmed she had a type of bacteria living in her stomach called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) a known cause of stomach ulcers and, as Chole would later learn, cancer of the organ. At a follow-up check a few weeks later medics grew increasingly concerned that this 'ulcer' hadn't fully disappeared despite Chole getting treatment, so samples were taken for testing. Three weeks later, the results revealed the devastating truth, the young woman had stomach cancer, a disease that kills over a fifth of patients within a decade. While 'blindsided' by this diagnosis, Chole detailed how even worse news was yet to come. The tests showed she had a particularly aggressive and rare form of the disease called signet ring cell adenocarcinoma. Medics also told Chloe that her cancer was most likely caused by the H. pylori infection. H. pylori—which infests the lining of the stomach and causes damage to tissue that can lead to cancer—is surprisingly common. An estimated two in five Britons have the bug. The vast majority—some eight or nine out of ten—won't know it as the bacteria normally causes no symptoms or only relatively mild problems like indigestion, bloating or nausea that can be easily dismissed. Studies suggest being infected with the bacteria increases the risk of developing stomach cancer six-fold although getting appropriate treatment like antibiotics dramatically reduces this. Data from the British charity Cancer Research UK (CRUK) suggests 41 per cent of the UK's 6,500 annual stomach cancer cases are caused by H. pylori, about 2,700 cases a year. Thankfully for Chole, further tests and scans indicated the cancer had been caught at a very early stage. However, due to its aggressive nature she had her entire stomach—as well as some connecting tissues—removed in a major surgery that followed months of chemotherapy. She has since undergone further chemotherapy in a bid to eliminate any microscopic remains of the cancer missed in the operation, which finished last November. While she will still need to undergo regular scans to ensure the cancer has not returned, Chloe said she was looking forward to the future, even as she grappled with no longer having a stomach. 'Overall I'm doing really well, getting my strength back. I'm training for a half-marathon in October this year,' she said. 'Obviously I've lost a lot of weight because I don't have a stomach so my eating is very different now, I have a lot of smaller portions.' Speaking now in a series of clips which have been viewed over 150,000 times, Chloe said she wanted to raise awareness about the dangers of unaddressed heartburn. 'If you have that (heartburn) it doesn't always mean you have cancer but it's always worth having it checked,' she said. She added she had no other classic symptoms of disease such as losing weight, fatigue, blood in stools, vomiting, or loss of appetite. 'If anyone has heartburn and it's not getting if you're should push your GP to do more investigations and see why,' she said. 'That's why stomach cancer is so hard to detect because heartburn is so common.' Heartburn is an extremely common ailment, affecting about one in four adults in the UK. Chloe's warning comes as the NHS plans to offer heartburn sufferers a new test in high street pharmacies that can detect a condition that dramatically increases the risk of developing oesophageal cancer. She's also not the only patient to have an interesting interaction between cancer symptoms and weight loss jabs. Last week MailOnline reported on a case of a 47-year-old man who revealed how medics missed the early warning signs he had colon cancer as they assumed his symptoms were from taking Mounjaro. About 18 Britons and 83 Americans are diagnosed with stomach cancer each day. The disease kills just over 4,200 patients in the UK each year, with the death toll rising to nearly 11,000 in the US. Only about one in six patients with stomach cancer (17 per cent) are expected to still be alive 10 years after their diagnosis. About one in 92 men and one in 170 women in the UK are estimated to develop stomach cancer in their lifetime. The main symptoms of stomach cancer include heartburn or acid reflux, having problems swallowing, feeling or being sick, indigestion and burping and feeling full very quickly when eating. These symptoms are common and usually caused by other conditions but patients who have had them for over three weeks should contact their GP for advice. Other symptoms include loss of appetite or losing weight without trying, stomach pain, a lump feeling at the top of the stomach and feeling very tired.
