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About Diabetes
What causes Diabetes
Do you have Diabetes?
Are you at risk for Diabetes?
Screening for Diabetes
Complications of Diabetes
Treating Diabetes
Do you have diabetes?
It is possible to have diabetes and be unaware of it for
years. This is particularly true in the case of Type 2
Diabetes, which develops slowly, over time. Diabetes can
manifest itself in a variety of symptoms, the most common
being an increased thirst and increased need to urinate. An
increase in thirst is the most common symptom and is the
result of dehydration caused by excess glucose drawing water
from body tissue. Quenching excess thirst results in a more
frequent need to urinate.
Symptoms of Diabetes
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Excess thirst resulting from
dehydration caused by high glucose levels drawing water from
body tissue.
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Frequent urination to expel
liquids consumed from the body.
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Flu symptoms such as fatigue and
lack of appetite, resulting from an inability of glucose - the
body's primary energy source - to reach the cells of the body.
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Weight fluctuations due to an
effort by the body to compensate for lost sugar and fluids.
This can result in weight gain resulting from an increased
desire to eat, but can also result in weight loss as muscles
do not get the glucose they need to grow and stay healthy.
Weight loss is particularly common with Type 1 Diabetes.
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Blurred vision resulting from a
lack of fluid in the lenses of the eyes due to high levels of
blood sugar in the body pulling fluid from body tissue. Long
term problems can result, including the growth of new blood
vessels in the retina or the damage of old blood vessels. In
extreme cases, diabetes can lead to blindness.
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Frequent infections result from
the negative impact of diabetes on a body's ability to heal
normally and fight off infections. Women with diabetes often
experience an increased frequency of vaginal and bladder
infections.
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Nerve damage resulting from
blood vessel damage caused by high blood sugar levels.
Symptoms of nerve damage can include tingling sensations in
the body's extremities, as well as loss of sensation and
burning pain. The hands, arms, feet and legs are the areas
most likely to show signs of nerve damage.
Read more from the
National
Institute of Diabetes. For Americans living with
diabetes, the
American Diabetes Association offers useful information,
resources and support. |
