Symptoms of diabetes

Do you think that you may be suffering from a form of diabetes? There are many clear-cut symptoms that can accurately gauge whether or not a person may have this chronic disease. Two types of diabetes exist, with symptoms that are similar but not exactly alike.

Type one diabetes occurs when the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas known as beta cells are not functioning properly. This causes a lack of insulin in the blood. Insulin is used by the body as a carrier that helps move glucose from what we eat into the various cells in our body. Cells then use this glucose to create energy. When proper levels of insulin are not maintained, the glucose from the foods that we eat cannot be processed into cells, and instead, it sits in the bloodstream. In the body of a person with Type one diabetes, glucose levels will continue to rise in the bloodstream until something is done about it, eventually causing major complications to a person’s health if left untreated.

If afflicted with Type one diabetes, the high glucose levels found in the bloodstream can cause a person to feel hungry constantly, as the body cries out for a source of energy. The high levels of glucose found in the blood of these patient cause them to frequently urinate to rid their body of the excess glucose. This can lead to an excessive feeling of thirst. If any of these symptoms sound like they fit your health issues, you may have Type one diabetes.

Type one diabetes occurs out of nowhere with no warning signs. Most commonly occurring in adolescents, Type one diabetes is often called Juvenile diabetes. Don’t let the name of this disease fool you, however – full-grown adults run the risk of developing Type one diabetes as well. Three percent of all new diabetes cases are Type one. Other symptoms that may occur when Type one diabetes is present include sudden unexplained weight loss, vomiting, pain in the abdomen, nausea, and a lack of menstruation in females.

Type two diabetes is the more common form of diabetes. People with Type two diabetes usually have no issues with insulin production. Type two diabetes occurs when a problem with processing the insulin produced in the pancreas is present. This is a problem that is commonly associated with obese people, since fat can cause a lack of insulin processing in the body. People with Type two diabetes have constantly high levels of blood sugar due to the lack of proper sugar usage by the body.

Type two diabetes can be tricky to diagnose; oftentimes people with this disease show no symptoms. However, if symptoms are present, they may include blurred vision, fatigue, an increased level of hunger and thirst, as well as an increased need to urinate. Another Type two symptom is the presence of frequent, slow-to-heal infections. Since the complications that can be caused by diabetes can be life-threatening, if you have ANY suspicion that you may be diabetic, immediate action needs to be taken to help preserve your very life.