Hi! Thank you for your question. Yes, diabetes has a strong genetic component to it so it’s always good to look out for early symptoms of diabetes especially if you have a strong family history. So the symptoms of diabetes includes:

• increase thirst (polydipsia)
• increase frequency of urination (polyuria)
• weight loss
• lethargy/tiredness and lack of energy
• blurring of vision
• itchiness at the private part (due to infection)

These symptoms can occur over a period of 4 weeks or several months even years. Although all these symptoms may present, the most common symptoms are the first 3 symptoms mentioned above which is increase thirst, increase frequency of urination and weight loss. At times, diabetes can also present without any symptoms.

This is known as asymptomatic diabetes. In these cases, diabetes will detected through raised sugar levels on routine examinations. Diabetes can also present with its complications. These complications include:

• skin infections
• damage to the eyes (will present with poor eyesight or detected during a visit to the optician)
• erectile dysfunction (due to damage in nerves and blood vessels)
• kidney problems (patients will usually present with frothy urine)
• heart attack (diabetes increases the risk of heart attack)
• tingling sensation or numbness in the feet (due to nerve damage)

This also can cause unwanted cuts and bruises as the person is unaware of the accident. Besides the numbness, diabetes can also cause poor healing of the wound and cuts and this will eventually lead to infection.

Eventhough, type 2 diabetes has a strong genetic component to it, there are factor which are just as important. These include obesity, increasing age, lifestyle and ethnicity. Obesity increases the risk of having diabetes 80-100 times. So in conclusion, have a good clean diet, exercise regularly and check your blood sugar regularly because prevention is always better than cure!

Please click on this link (DoctorOnCall) to talk to us privately online and discuss further about your symptoms and treatment needed. Thank you.