Health signs that are easily confused with type 2 diabetes

Diabetes affects every part of the body, causing symptoms that can easily be confused with other diseases.

There are symptoms of many diseases that are difficult to distinguish from type 2 diabetes, requiring us to discuss thoroughly with our doctors to have an appropriate treatment regimen, according to EverydayHealth.

Polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal condition in which the ovaries produce higher than normal amounts of the male hormone androgen.

Signs of PCOS that resemble diabetes include weight gain and acanthosis nigricans (a condition in which skin folds become dark and velvety). Many people with PCOS also have insulin resistance, which affects the body's ability to use insulin, leading to higher blood sugar levels.

Medical experts also estimate that more than half of women with PCOS will develop type 2 diabetes by age 40.

More than half of women with PCOS will develop type 2 diabetes by age 40 - Photo: AI

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland, a butterfly-shaped organ that helps regulate your metabolism, doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone. It can lead to symptoms like extreme fatigue, weight gain, and mood swings — all of which mimic those of diabetes. The two conditions have overlapping symptoms, and many people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes also have hypothyroidism, says Egils Bogdanovics, MD, of Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Connecticut.

Hemochromatosis

Hemochromatosis is an inherited condition that involves the gradual accumulation of iron in the body. When iron levels become high enough, iron overload can lead to unpleasant symptoms, such as joint pain and fatigue.

This condition is sometimes called "bronzing diabetes" because it can cause the skin to appear tanned and bronzed.

Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis can resemble diabetes because both involve the death or dysfunction of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, leading to overlapping symptoms.

Diabetes can develop from chronic pancreatitis when inflammation in the pancreas damages the cells that produce insulin.

Cushing's syndrome

Cushing's syndrome causes high cortisol levels, which can lead to insulin resistance similar to type 2 diabetes. Weight gain, especially around the abdomen, is a common symptom of Cushing's syndrome.

"We consider the possibility of Cushing's syndrome in anyone with type 2 diabetes who requires unusually high doses of insulin. Most cases of Cushing's syndrome go undetected," says Dr. Bogdanovics.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/cac-dau-hieu-suc-khoe-de-bi-nham-lan-voi-benh-tieu-duong-loai-2-185250709070805977.htm