When you think of diabetes, you might imagine someone who is overweight or obviously unhealthy. But here’s the truth: diabetes doesn’t always present itself the way you imagine. In fact, many people with type 2 diabetes appear slim, active, or even athletic, and don’t realize that their blood sugar is silently spiraling out of control.
Your weight or appearance does not protect you from this chronic disease.
This condition is known in the medical community as “non-obese diabetes” or “lean diabetes” and is more common than you might think, especially among Asian populations, where diabetes can develop even at a much lower BMI than in Western countries.
Here are six warning signs that may indicate you have diabetes, even if your body appears “normal” on the outside.
1. You often feel tired after meals
Do you feel unusually sleepy, confused, or drained after eating, even if it wasn’t a heavy meal? This could be a sign of postprandial blood sugar spikes, one of the first signs of insulin resistance. Your cells aren’t processing glucose efficiently, so your energy levels plummet.
