Symptoms Of Diabetes

While the early symptoms of diabetes may seem to be harmless and you may even have them for months before you ever notice this. There are actually millions of people that don’t realize that they are living with diabetes, but if you are aware of the symptoms, you can avoid being one of those people who are unaware of their problem. When you understand the symptoms of diabetes, you can be diagnosed and then start treatment right away, leading to a healthier life. So, here are a few of the symptoms you need to look out for.

Diabetes is a very common disease, characterized by high levels of blood sugar, which is a direct result of defective insulin action or secretion. In normal people, the levels of blood glucose are very controlled by insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is produced in the pancreas and when the blood sugar levels begin to rise, such as after a meal, the pancreas releases insulin to bring the glucose level in the blood back to normal. People that have diabetes either deal with not enough insulin being produced or the total absence of insulin in their blood, causing high blood sugar. Although diabetes is something that can be controlled in a variety of ways, it is a disease that lasts for life.

Symptoms of Diabetes

- Increased Urination and Excessive Thirst - Experiencing increased urination and excessive thirst are some of the most common symptoms of diabetes. If you have too much sugar in your blood from diabetes, the kidneys have to work harder to get rid of the extra sugar. When the kidneys can’t take care of all of it, the sugar goes into your urine, triggering increased urination. Also, as you deal with the excessive thirst, you’ll begin to urinate more as well.

- Weight Changes - Another symptom that may be a sign of diabetes is a change in weight. It can either be weigh loss or weight gain. Often people, especially those with Type I diabetes can deal with weight loss as a result of losing sugar and calories and increased hunger as a result of this loss. Of course on the other hand, with Type II diabetes, weight gain can be an issue, and can actually make your body more resistant to insulin, making your blood sugar go higher.

- Flu-Like Symptoms - There are times when some of the symptoms of diabetes can act a bit like the flu. Some people experience loss of appetite, fatigue, and weakness as well.

- Blurry Vision - In some cases diabetes can show itself in your eyes. High amounts of blood sugar can take the fluid from various tissues in your body, including your eyes. This can affect the eyes ability to focus. Blurry vision can occur, as well as flashing lights, dark spots, and in rare cases, blindness can even occur.

Long Term Effects
Diabetes, especially if it is untreated, can cause some long term effects. Over a long time, some problems that can occur as a result of diabetes include nerve damage, blindness, and even kidney failure. Studies have also found that diabetes is also a factor in hardening of the arteries as well, which can lead on to heart disease, strokes, and other complications. Since the long term effects of diabetes can be so negative, it is important that people recognize their symptoms as soon as possible and seek medical attention so treatment can begin.

Treating Diabetes
Even though diabetes is a disease that doesn’t go away, there are some excellent treatment methods available. The main goal in diabetes treatment is to make sure that the blood sugar is sufficiently lowered without making it drop too low. Some of the treatments for Type I diabetes includes exercise, special diet, and insulin. Type II diabetes is treated with weight reduction measures, diet for diabetics, and exercise as well. Then, if these measures don’t keep blood sugar down, oral medications may be used for the patient. In some cases, when oral medications don’t keep the blood sugar where it should be, then insulin may be used as well. In some cases the case of diabetes may be so bad that medications or insulin may be needed; however, there are many people who can be successful with treating diabetes with diet, exercise, and weight loss.