Common Signs of Diabetes
The symptoms of diabetes can be puzzling. Even the common ones may not be present in all cases. They may come and go. And the same symptoms can be produced by other conditions. Nevertheless, there are a cluster of common circumstances that tend to mark out the disease.
A typical symptom of diabetes is excessively frequent urination. The primary definitive symptom of diabetes is an excess of glucose in the blood. In Type 1 diabetes the body fails to produce sufficient insulin to process glucose, while in Type 2 diabetes insulin is not used properly.
Excess urination stems from the body’s attempt to restore the glucose body. The kidneys work overtime to process the extra sugar; however they can’t filter is all. The remaining glucose is then eliminated through other metabolic mechanisms.
The excess urination leads to extreme thirst. A person with untreated diabetes may be constantly thirsty. No amount of fluid seems to quench the thirst, but it does cause more urination.
Constant tiredness may also be a sign of diabetes. The body’s insulin is failing to help cells absorb glucose from the blood and the result is fatigue. Glucose powers most body functions, including movement and cell repair.
Symptoms of diabetes can show up in other body systems as well.
Blurry vision can result from any number of conditions, even simple age where it is often just presbyopia. Presbyopia results from reduced elasticity of the lenses as we age, leading to a lessened ability to focus. But the cause in the case of diabetes is very different.
High blood sugar levels reduce fluid in the tissues, including those of the eye and in particular the lenses. That affects your ability to focus. When the disease becomes more advanced it can cause new blood vessels to form in the retina. That again affects your vision. Though in this circumstance, the result is more often seeing dark spots or flashing lights, or rings around room lights.
Diabetes can also affect wound healing. Cuts, especially on the feet may heal more slowly in a person with Type 2 diabetes. Scientists don’t clearly understand the reasons for this problem, but can be another symptom. In addition, the immune system is weakened and cannot fight infection as well.
Since so many of these symptoms can be (and are) produced by a number of other conditions, the best course of action if you suspect you have diabetes is to seek a professional diagnosis. Simple blood tests can determine with a high degree of confidence whether or not you do in fact have the disease. They’re relatively painless and most are covered by ordinary health insurance.
Julia Hanf author of the book How To Play the Diabetes Diet Game and Win Through a real life crisis Julia figured out how to live diabetes free. Visit http://www.yourdiabetescure.com and learn more about your solution for diabetes.