Millions of people live with diabetes without ever knowing they have this serious condition. Have you ever considered that you could be one of them? Familiarize yourself with the symptoms outlined in this article. If you suspect that you may have this disease, speak to your doctor for further testing.
Type 1 Diabetes (Previously known as "Juvenile" Diabetes)
1. Frequent feelings of thirst and increased frequency of urination. If you are diabetic, your body cannot process sugar (glucose) properly, causing your kidneys go into overdrive to remove the excess sugar from your blood. Fluids are drawn from the body to eliminate this extra glucose in the form of urine. Urinating more frequently leads to dehydration and feeling chronically thirsty.
2. Fatigue and lethargy. Feeling drained, sapped, or fatigued occurs due to both dehydration and the fact that glucose, which fuels your body, is not processed correctly. Without an adequate supply of energy, the processes of your body slow down, leaving you with little energy to complete even simple day-to-day tasks.
3. Chronic hunger. Because diabetes is a metabolic disorder, the way the food you eat is converted to fuel that your body can use goes awry. This can lead to constant hunger pangs as your body feels deprived of fuel, even if you have just eaten a meal.
4. Weight loss. Because many of the calories you eat are excreted as glucose in your urine, you may lose weight if you have diabetes. This can occur quite rapidly and without any effort on your part. While that may sound like a miracle diet, you should consult your doctor immediately if you continuously drop weight without trying.
5. Feeling irritable. Irritability is a common symptom of Type 1 diabetes due to the constant state of feeling hungry, tired and thirsty. Fluctuations in hormones that result from diabetes can also lead to feelings of frustration or aggravation.
Type 2 or Adult-Onset Diabetes
1. Any or all of the previously listed symptoms. The two types of diabetes share many of the same symptoms. The primary difference between the two is that Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body destroys its own ability to produce insulin. In type 2 diabetes, the body becomes progressively more resistant to insulin. Nonetheless, many of the symptoms are shared between both forms of the disease.
2. Blurred vision. When the kidneys pull fluids from the body to excrete along with extra glucose, the lenses of your eyes can become dry, leading to blurry sight. As diabetes progresses, you can experience other complications that affect your eyes, including a condition known as diabetic retinopathy.
3. Persistent, frequent, or recurring infections. Chronic skin and gum infections can occur as a result of diabetes, as can frequent bladder or vaginal infections. The body's ability to fight infections is compromised by this disease.
4. Cuts and other wounds heal slowly. In addition to reducing your body's ability to fight infections, diabetes can also make it harder for your body to heal wounds and sores. The combination of these two symptoms can lead to serious complications, including amputation, especially for wounds that occur on the feet.
5. Tingling or numb hands and feet. Extra glucose in the blood can damage your nerves and affect circulation, especially in the extremities. Tingly or numb sensations are known as "neuropathy," and they can occur if diabetes is poorly managed or uncontrolled.
If you experience the symptoms listed above, discuss them in depth with your personal physician. He or she can determine whether you need further testing to diagnose diabetes, and if you do have the condition, you can begin managing it as soon as possible to prevent complications.
Type 1 Diabetes (Previously known as "Juvenile" Diabetes)
1. Frequent feelings of thirst and increased frequency of urination. If you are diabetic, your body cannot process sugar (glucose) properly, causing your kidneys go into overdrive to remove the excess sugar from your blood. Fluids are drawn from the body to eliminate this extra glucose in the form of urine. Urinating more frequently leads to dehydration and feeling chronically thirsty.
2. Fatigue and lethargy. Feeling drained, sapped, or fatigued occurs due to both dehydration and the fact that glucose, which fuels your body, is not processed correctly. Without an adequate supply of energy, the processes of your body slow down, leaving you with little energy to complete even simple day-to-day tasks.
3. Chronic hunger. Because diabetes is a metabolic disorder, the way the food you eat is converted to fuel that your body can use goes awry. This can lead to constant hunger pangs as your body feels deprived of fuel, even if you have just eaten a meal.
4. Weight loss. Because many of the calories you eat are excreted as glucose in your urine, you may lose weight if you have diabetes. This can occur quite rapidly and without any effort on your part. While that may sound like a miracle diet, you should consult your doctor immediately if you continuously drop weight without trying.
5. Feeling irritable. Irritability is a common symptom of Type 1 diabetes due to the constant state of feeling hungry, tired and thirsty. Fluctuations in hormones that result from diabetes can also lead to feelings of frustration or aggravation.
Type 2 or Adult-Onset Diabetes
1. Any or all of the previously listed symptoms. The two types of diabetes share many of the same symptoms. The primary difference between the two is that Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body destroys its own ability to produce insulin. In type 2 diabetes, the body becomes progressively more resistant to insulin. Nonetheless, many of the symptoms are shared between both forms of the disease.
2. Blurred vision. When the kidneys pull fluids from the body to excrete along with extra glucose, the lenses of your eyes can become dry, leading to blurry sight. As diabetes progresses, you can experience other complications that affect your eyes, including a condition known as diabetic retinopathy.
3. Persistent, frequent, or recurring infections. Chronic skin and gum infections can occur as a result of diabetes, as can frequent bladder or vaginal infections. The body's ability to fight infections is compromised by this disease.
4. Cuts and other wounds heal slowly. In addition to reducing your body's ability to fight infections, diabetes can also make it harder for your body to heal wounds and sores. The combination of these two symptoms can lead to serious complications, including amputation, especially for wounds that occur on the feet.
5. Tingling or numb hands and feet. Extra glucose in the blood can damage your nerves and affect circulation, especially in the extremities. Tingly or numb sensations are known as "neuropathy," and they can occur if diabetes is poorly managed or uncontrolled.
If you experience the symptoms listed above, discuss them in depth with your personal physician. He or she can determine whether you need further testing to diagnose diabetes, and if you do have the condition, you can begin managing it as soon as possible to prevent complications.
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