symptoms of diabetes
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The
most consistent symptoms of diabetes mellitus
(Type 1 diabetes
and
Type 2 diabetes) is
elevated blood sugar levels. In
Type 1 diabetes (insulin
dependent / early onset) diabetes, this is caused by the body not
producing enough insulin to properly regulate
blood sugar. In
Type 2 diabetes (non insulin dependent/adult onset) diabetes, it is caused by the body
developing resistance to insulin, so it cannot properly use what it
produces.
However, high blood sugar is not something you can see in the mirror at
home, so it is useful to know the side-effects of high blood sugar,
which are commonly recognized as the noticeable
symptoms of diabetes.
If you find yourself experiencing many of these diabetes symptoms on a
consistent, long term basis, you should visit a doctor to be
tested for
diabetes. Ignoring (or not recognizing) the
symptoms of diabetes can
lead to long-term serious health risks and complications from untreated
diabetes. Some of the common 'early warning' signs of diabetes are:
-
The first symptom of diabetes is often excessive thirst (unrelated to exercise, hot weather, or short-term illness)
-
Excessive hunger (you know you've eaten "enough" but are still hungry all the time)
-
Frequent urination (often noticed because you must wake up repeatedly during the night)
-
Tiredness and fatigue (possibly severe enough to make you fall asleep unexpectedly after meals), one of the most common symptoms of diabetes.
-
Rapid and/or sudden weight loss (any dramatic change in weight is a sign to visit a doctor)
While many of the
signs and
symptoms of
diabetes can also be related to other causes, testing for diabetes
is very easy, and the constant/regular presence of one or more of these
symptoms over an extended period of time should be cause for a visit to
the doctor.
If diabetes is suspected, tested for, and diagnosed when those
symptoms
first start appearing, other more serious symptoms of advanced diabetes
can often be prevented or have their onset significantly delayed through
diet, exercise and proper blood sugar management.
However, often the 'minor'
symptoms of
diabetes go unrecognized, and physical and neurological problems may
arise, resulting in some
of the following symptoms:
-
Blurred vision (diabetes can lead to macular degeneration and eventual blindness)
-
Numbness and/or tingling in the hands and feet (peripheral neuropathy, a symptom of diabetes, causes nerve damage in the extremities)
-
Slow healing of minor scratches and wounds (diabetes often leads to impaired immune system function)
-
Recurrent or hard-to-treat yeast infections in women (another sign of impaired immune function)
-
Dry or itchy skin (peripheral neuropathy also affects circulation and proper sweat gland function)
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms on a regular basis, or you recognize these symptoms in a child or relative, they may be signs of untreated diabetes. A doctor's appointment should be made as soon as possible, so the individual experiencing the symptoms can -- if diabetes is diagnosed -- take the steps needed to prevent more serious health problems.
