Do you think diabetes or becoming pre-diabetic would show symptoms?
Diabetes is defined as a fasting blood glucose level of 126 mg/dl or higher, or a glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level of 6.5 percent or higher.
While prediabetes is characterized by fasting blood glucose levels between 100 and 125 mg/dl and HbA1c levels between 5.7 percent and 6.4 percent.
Speaking about the Korean Diabetes Association YouTube channel The essence of diabetesCho Young-min, professor of endocrinology and metabolism at Seoul National University Hospital, said: “There are no specific warning signs,” adding: “That’s why regular health checkups and blood sugar monitoring are important.”
Although diabetes and prediabetes often progress without noticeable symptoms, advanced diabetes can cause obvious physical warning signs.
The best known are the so-called “three Ps” of diabetes: polyuria (frequent urination), polydipsia (excessive thirst) and polyphagia (excessive hunger). Unintentional weight loss can also occur.
“Excessive thirst, frequent urination and persistent hunger leading to increased food intake are the most common symptoms,” Cho said.
He continued: “Weight loss can also occur, especially if body weight decreases despite adequate food intake.”
When such symptoms occur, blood sugar levels are typically already very high, Cho noted. “If these symptoms are present, diabetes may already be in an advanced stage,” the expert added.
For early diagnosis, Cho emphasized the importance of routine blood tests, including fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin measurements, before symptoms develop.
As interest in so-called ‘blood sugar spikes’ has increased, many people associate post-meal sleepiness with high blood sugar levels. However, Cho debunked the myth with his statement:
“The more severe the diabetes, the higher the blood sugar level tends to rise after meals. If post-meal sleepiness were a reliable indicator, patients with severe diabetes would feel sleepy after every meal, but that is not what we see in clinical practice,” he explained.
Diabetes can damage the entire body by affecting both large and small blood vessels, making early diagnosis and lifelong treatment essential. For this reason, Cho emphasized the need for regular screening, especially before symptoms appear.
“Adults with a family history of diabetes, people with obesity and women who have had gestational diabetes are considered high-risk groups,” he said before concluding, emphasizing that blood glucose monitoring is especially important for these groups.
