3 signs you might have diabetes

3 signs you might have diabetes

Don't wait until the serious symptoms appear to get diagnosed. Here are three signs you might have diabetes—see your doctor if they seem familiar

By Richard Laliberte

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1. Figure your risk factors

The first thing to look at is whether any element of your background makes you more likely than the general population to develop diabetes. Among the most important factors to evaluate are:

• Family history
If anyone in your immediate family—a parent, sibling, or grandparent—has had diabetes, you have a higher chance of developing the disease yourself. The extent of the risk depends on the type of diabetes and how closely related you are to the person who has it (the risk is highest among identical twins).

• Ethnic group
The most common type of diabetes (called type 2) is most prevalent in African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, and Asian Americans. The other major form (type 1) is most prevalent in Caucasians, especially those with backgrounds in northern European regions, such as Scandinavia.

• Weight
Being overweight significantly raises your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. That makes it one of the most important risk factors because it's one you can control.

• Age
Type 1 usually occurs in children or teens (it's rarely diagnosed after age 30). Type 2 generally develops after age 40, although it's becoming more common in younger people.