Hundreds of asymptomatic diabetes cases are emerging during routine health checks across Hyderabad with no suggestive symptoms of rise in blood sugar, stated doctors.

A large proportion of these new patients do not have any typical symptoms of diabetes, such as increased frequency of urination, fatigue, excessive thirst or hunger, weight loss and blurry vision. Nutritionists and diabetologists are of the opinion that it could be attributed to the change in food intake and limited or no exercise during the pandemic.

A 47-year-old woman, Suhasini Kumar, had a blackout at home for 45 seconds and got a health check-up done the next day. Her blood sugar levels were found to be high. She didn’t have a family history of diabetes, so the doctors went for a more confirmatory test which showed that she had moderately high blood sugar. She never had the usual signs and symptoms of diabetes and if she had not gone for the tests, she would not have known that she was asymptomatic diabetic. She has been told that a change in food and lifestyle can reverse it.

According to doctors, a large number of individuals during the lockdown have developed higher blood sugar and are unaware of it. Overweight children as young as 12 years of age are testing positive for asymptomatic diabetes and pre-diabetes. K Sunitha Premalatha, chief dietician at Yashoda hospitals said that over the past one and a half year, there has been limited physical activity and the calorie intake has remained the same, which has led to dramatic weight gain among people. As a result, there are many people who come for regular check-up and have diabetes detected by chance.

She mentioned that when they enquire about typical symptoms, the patients don’t report any but limited physical activity is common. Weight gain of around 6-8 kg in a one year period is seen in these patients. 

Doctors also think that increased levels of stress during the pandemic have also played a role. Dr Ashish Chauhan, senior consultant diabetologist at Apollo Hospitals, said that the leading cause for diabetes is stress. Diabetes can be induced by stress, drugs or even COVID. If high levels of stress are not taken care of in time, it brings to light hidden diabetes and hypertension. He has seen 100 new cases since the pandemic and stated that several patients have vague symptoms like depression, irritation, drowsiness, insomnia and sexual dysfunction.

Source: ET Healthworld