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More than 20 million people, both children and adults, in the US
alone suffer from a form of diabetes. The early signs and symptoms
of diabetes are so small and subtle that nearly one third of those
who have diabetes aren’t even aware of it. Many of the symptoms of
diabetes seem insignificant and are often overlooked, but if you
have diabetes, it can quickly turn life-threatening without early
intervention.
Excessive fatigue and constant tiredness are common signs of
diabetes. A diabetic’s body can not process glucose correctly,
resulting in less fuel to cells. The body will then begin to use
stored fat for fuel, burning even more energy and resulting in a
feeling of being continuously tired and run down.
The high levels of sugar in the blood associated with diabetes cause
the body to try a number of different methods to lower it. Most
diabetics feel a constant thirst. Thirst is the body’s natural
attempt to decrease the blood sugar level by diluting it. Thirst is
also a result of another symptom of diabetes, frequent urination. In
another attempt to remove the extra sugar from the body, a diabetic
will urinate more often than normal. This also causes an extreme
loss of water in the body which could lead to dehydration.
The combination of dehydration and loss of sugar and fluid in the
body, added to the fact that the body may be working extra to create
fuel and may not be processing all the available calories in foods
that are consumed, can result in rapid weight loss as well as a
constant hunger and need to eat. Both of these symptoms of diabetes
are very common, but an unexplained weight loss is one of the more
noticeable warning signs of the disease.
Confusion, an inability to concentrate, and unexplainable
irritability are also symptoms that may be a result of diabetes. The
high sugar levels associated with diabetes can also prevent the
body’s white blood cells from working efficiently. This can result
in slow healing of cuts and scrapes and other wounds. Diabetes can
interfere with the body’s immune system as well, allowing bacteria
to grow inside the cells and creating various forms of infection
throughout the body, including urinary infections, yeast infections,
and infections of the skin.
All of the above symptoms can accompany both type 1 and type 2
diabetes. A person with diabetes may not experience all of these,
but anyone with one or more symptoms of diabetes should visit their
doctor for a diabetes screening. Each type of diabetes can produce
more specific symptoms as well. Type 1 diabetes is usually easier to
recognize and diagnose because the symptoms are intense and usually
begin all at once. Type 1 diabetes is often seen early in childhood
or during the teen years. Extra stress to the body from an injury or
illness can induce diabetic ketoacidosis, which causes nausea and
vomiting, and often dehydration, and can result in a coma or death
if not immediately treated.
People suffering from type 2 diabetes may live with the disease for
many years without even realizing it. The symptoms of type 2
diabetes are much more subtle, usually not interfering with the
carrier’s everyday life. It is usually not recognized until the
person grows old or begins to have problems with obesity. If type 2
diabetes is left untreated, it can lead to serious complications
that include kidney failure, blindness, and heart complications.
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