Knowing the Symptoms of Diabetes

Diabetes is a serious and lifelong disease in which body is unable to maintain normal levels of blood sugar. There are three major types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, and gestational. Type 1 diabetes results from the immune system attacking the cells of the pancreas responsible for insulin production. Type 2 diabetes is characterized by the non-responsiveness of body cells to insulin. Gestational diabetes is exclusive to women, and is brought about by pregnancy.

Currently all three forms have no known cure. However, early diagnosis is important so as the proper treatment can be given to suppress symptoms and to prevent the development of serious medical conditions. Therefore, having some knowledge on the symptoms of diabetes is essential for a person health.

The three different types of diabetes have different effects on the body and require specialized treatments. However, there are common telltale signs that a person might have high levels of sugar in their bloodstream. As mentioned, early diagnosis would mean receiving the right treatment that could suppress and even reverse the development of the disease, especially for type 2 diabetes.

Symptom 1: Thirst and Urination

Frequent urination is the most common among symptoms of diabetes. The reason behind this is that the kidneys are working extra hard in filtering the sugar in the blood. The kidneys which are inept in filtering sugar and thus draw extra water from the blood; hence, the person is constantly thirsty.

Symptom 2:  Weight Loss

When the body could no longer utilize sugar, it starts to break down muscle and fat tissue in order to create the needed energy. Among the symptoms of diabetes, drastic weight loss normally signals type 1 daibetes. If the weight loss is gradual, then it might be type 2 diabetes.

Symptom 3: Other Warning Signs

Having dry and itchy skin, blurred vision, skin and wound infections, or cuts and bruises that take a long time to heal are signs that some blood vessels of the body may be damaged. These symptoms cardiovascular injuries may be causes by high levels of blood sugar.

What to Do When You Have Some of the Symptoms of Diabetes

People having symptoms of diabetes usually ignore their own body’s warning signs. Still, anything out of the ordinary means that your body is telling you something and it is probably the best time to consult a doctor. People should have the mindset that in situations where your general well-being is concerned, it is always betters to be sure than sorry, especially if diabetes runs in the family.