Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes



There are people in this world today that have this disease and not even know it. In fact, type 2 diabetes develop in many cases with little or no warning signs and can go on this way for years. If left untreated over a long period of time, it could lead to serious health issues. This is why you should talk with you doctor during check-ups about risk you may not be aware of and if you should be tested for diabetes.

In some cases, warning symptoms of diabetes do present themselves early. It is vital that you recognize potential signs and react with proper medical treatment. Treatment is most effect in the early stages of diabetes and can ward off potential complications thereby giving you a healthier lifestyle. Below you will find the most common signs of diabetes that are sometimes ignored. Knowing what to look for is the fist step in controlling this disease.

Signs of Type 1 Diabetes

  • Always Thirsty
  • Frequent Urination
  • Always hungry
  • Weight loss
  • Headaches
  • Blurred vision
  • Confusion
  • Shakiness
  • Very tired, all the time

Signs of Type 2 Diabetes

  • Always Thirsty
  • Frequent Urination
  • Always hungry
  • No weight change or weight loss
  • Blurred vision
  • Headaches
  • Confusion
  • Shakiness
  • Tired
  • Sores that won’t heal
  • Sometimes no symptoms

Explanation of Diabetic Symptoms
What causes these symptoms? It is caused by the high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood.

Always thirsty:
This is an effort by the body to dilute the high concentration of sugar in the blood. Additionally, cells become dehydrated because of the movement of water from the cells to the bloodstream to dilute the concentrated blood sugar.

Frequent Urination:
The kidneys respond to the high blood sugar levels by dumping sugar into the urine. Water follows in an effort to dilute the concentrated urine. This results in the production of a large amount of urine and many trips to the bathroom.

Always hungry:
Although there is plenty of sugar in the bloodstream, the cells of the body are not receiving the nutrients needed to provide energy. Essentially the cells are starving. The brain gets the message and responds by making the person feel hungry.

No change in weight or weight loss:
People with Type 1 Diabetes will lose weight because they produce no insulin. Their cells are starving. Therefore they produce energy by burning existing body fat resulting in weight loss. People with Type 2 Diabetes make insulin but, it is not enough insulin or the cells do not recognize the insulin. Because the cells receive some glucose, they may or may not experience weight loss.

Blurred vision/ Shakiness/ Headaches/ Confusion:
Unlike the cells of the body, brain cells only use glucose for energy. Therefore when sugar (glucose) levels get low, the brain responds with the aforementioned symptoms to the reduced levels in the body.

Tired:
The person feels tired because the body cells are not receiving sufficient nutrients to provide energy.

Sores that won’t heal:
The high levels of glucose impairs the ability of the immune system to respond to injury. Additionally the prolonged healing time provides an opportunity for an infection to set up where bacteria thrive in the glucose rich environment.

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