Some 1/3 of diabetics don’t know that they have it until it’s too late. By then it may be very late, and they may already be experiencing the severe ramifications of undiagnosed diabetes, which can include organ damage.

This was the experience of the late blues legend and diabetic BB King, whose undiagnosed diabetes kept him tired and weak for years. He was in his 60s when he learned he was a type 2 diabetic. At that time he also learned that the deaths of his mother, father, sister and niece were all due to untreated diabetes.

The first thing you should know is your family medical history. Is there a history of diabetes in your family tree? That puts you at risk, more so if you are overweight.

For type 1 diabetes, the symptoms are usually easier to detect because they develop over just a few days due to hyperglycemia, which is a rapid rise in glucose. These symptoms include excessive thirst, hunger and sometimes a dry mouth.

Despite an increased appetite, type 1 diabetics often lose a significant amount of weight very quickly. Other symptoms include the need to urinate frequently, blurry vision, and increased fatigue.

Type 2 diabetes is trickier, because the symptoms develop very gradually, and sometimes, there are no symptoms at all. This is why type 2 diabetics often go through life unknowing of their disease until after the complications of the disease occur.

Some people with type 2 diabetes may experience numbness or tingling in their hands and feet, sores that take a long time to heal, and blurry vision. Women may contract yeast infections while some men complain of unforeseen impotency.

Also, prior the onset of type 2 diabetes, many people develop a symptom free condition called pre-diabetes. This occurs when glucose levels are elevated, but they are not high enough to be considered full blown type 2 diabetes.

Pre-diabetes has no discernable symptoms. So if you have a family history of diabetes, are overweight, non Caucasian, then you are at risk. You can get tested to see if you are pre-diabetic.

Be wary. Diabetes is a silent killer. If you think you are at risk, see your doctor and get a blood glucose test.

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