Statistically you have nine in ten chances to be in a prediabetic state, but only one in twenty chances of being aware of it. That’s because prediabetic symptoms are vastly hidden from the view.
Although blood work can surely tell if you have diabetes, it is not the same for prediabetes. Current lab tests are not set to pick up early prediabetic phase, only the very late ones, so many prediabetics are not told about their condition.
That leaves you on your own to watch out for symptoms of prediabetes, hypoglycemia symptoms, and signs of insulin resistance. Thankfully many of those you can discover by yourself, just by paying attention to your body.
Distinguish symptoms of prediabetes from hypoglycemia symptoms
Symptoms of prediabetes can vary and you need to know that hypoglycemia symptoms are common during the prediabetes stage.
Hypoglycemia symptoms can vary from irritability to insomnia and can mimic many other health problems like migraines or ADHD. You can learn how to spot hidden symptoms of hypoglycemia in the following articles:
- Hypoglycemia symptoms for beginners
- How to spot early prediabetes symptoms
- Hypoglycemia symptoms and your handwriting
- Monthly symptoms of low blood sugar in women
- Is low blood sugar sign of diabetes?
- How to spot symptoms of low blood sugar
- Hypoglycemia for non-diabetics
The chart below lists little-known hypoglycemia symptoms. Download it and post it on your fridge to have a quick reference.
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If you find yourself having hypoglycemia symptoms your first steps should be dietary changes, because what you put on your plate would make or break your health future. The links below will give you guidance on what to do.
- Diet for low blood sugar – quick tips
- Simplified diet rules for sugar dips
- Five dietary rules for sugar swings
- What to eat of blood sugar is low?
Test for diabetes and prediabetes
You may also take matters in your own hands by learning how to interpret your blood work as related to blood sugar. There is one underused blood test that any doctor can order for you. This test is easy to read and can tell if you have diabetes or pre-diabetes.
Be aware that the fasting sugar test is usually insufficiently interpreted and may be misleading. You cannot rely on it alone to tell if you are prediabetic. Unfortunately inadequate testing and understanding of prediabetes leads to many unnecessary prescriptions. It is not uncommon to see a prescription for anxiety and depression, while one needs to be treated for symptoms of pre-diabetes.
Warning symptoms of pre-diabetes
From feelings of low satiety to skin growths, body language is full of information about sugar physiology. The very first signs of changes to glucose metabolism may be changes in appetite and body size. This first stage is usually marked with intermittent hypoglycemia symptoms:
- sensitivity to cold,
- low blood pressure,
- fatigue,
- inability to fast, and many others.
how to spot symptoms of low blood sugar
How to tell if you have diabetes?
For an undisputed diagnosis of diabetes you will have to perform a set of specific blood tests. However, if you are afraid of doctors and needles you could tell whether you are at a higher risk for this disease just by looking at your body. Observe yourself and check the following signs. They are related to insulin resistance.
Hair loss
Did you know that hair loss is frequently a sign of insulin resistance? Studies confirmed that male pattern baldness both in women and men is highly correlated with sugar imbalance.If you want your hair back you would need to first restore insulin sensitivity of your cells which means reverse diabetes or prediabetes.
Skin tags
Has your neck been growing skin tags in recent years? Skin tags around the neck are another body sign correlated with symptoms of pre-diabetes. Skin tags have significant correlation with HOMA-IR index, a new and highly sensitive test for insulin resistance.
Since first skin tags may appear years before you can detect sugar imbalance in the blood, you should treat skin tags as an important sign of insulin resistance and symptoms of pre-diabetes regardless of what your blood work tells you.
Do not blindly run to a dermatologist or a cosmetic salon, as removing skin tags would not improve glucose balance.
Pant sizes getting larger
What about your waist size? Waist to hip ratio is a major indicator of well-being. Increased waist in relationship to hip is correlated with worsening of health.
Larger waist is associated with inflammation and insulin resistance as well a host of other health predicaments including infertility and heart disease. Here are my few cents about ever growing stomach fat:
- How to get a perfect waist size
- How to lose stomach fat
- Why FitBit won’t make you lose weight
- Cant lose weight? Blame your lightbulbs
- Prediabetes cookbook
Hypoglycemia symptoms and symptoms of prediabetes are so common among us that we are no longer conscious of them. We see them daily yet do not recognize them as warning signs of compromised health. A large proportion of our friends and co-workers have large bellies, skin tags and hair loss. They may be already in prediabetic phase or are likely heading towards it. Did you know that 30% of people with pre-diabetes will develop diabetes within five years if not properly diagnosed? Share this knowledge with them. Proper recognition of symptoms of prediabetes can do wonders for health!
You have a typo on this site;
Here it is — “What to east of blood sugar is low?” You meant “eat” not “EAST”
thank you. corrected
🙂
sorry about the caps
It got my attention when you said that one of the signs of diabetes was hair loss because that was an indicator that the body was resisting insulin. Of course, I do not want to think that my sister has diabetes, but she does have a history of high blood sugar and now she’s complaining of hair loss. It might be for the best to get her to the professional for confirmation so we can do something about it right away. Thank you for sharing.
I see the reasoning. Let me clarify. One does not need to have diabetes to have hair loss. It is enough to have insulin resistance to experience hair thinning. There are no standard tests for insulin resistance, only for diabetes therefore the tests may be meaningless. The best way to get rid of insulin resistance is to lose weight. This can be done right away without having to wait for tests that do not exist.
I know that thyroid imbalances can cause hair loss too.
I’m having some unexplained weight loss-I haven’t check your blog yet as I was looking for prediabetic symptoms.
I’ve been looking through all the other “stuff” but have been looking for a ND or someone with more of a holistic approach.
I’ve also developed quite a lot of bits on my skin and someone mentioned bedbugs although I have seen no symptoms in my bedding. A friend has them but I haven’t been around her much. Any comments on this too?
I would start with a very thorough blood work.
I was Diagnosed with type two diabetes with my first son and then now I don’t have to but I’m still losing my hair a lot I don’t know what to do please help
In order to stop hair loss you need to work on correcting insulin resistance. Insulin resistance can be reversed, but how depends on your circumstances. Weight loss, avoidance of vegetable oils, PUFAs, junk food, and low nutrient foods is the key. Insulin resistance progress/regress can be tracked by testing HOMA-IR, which includes testing fasting blood sugar and fasting insulin at the same time. Stay positive. Hair loss can be stopped.