Signs Of Diabetes - Detection And Treatment

Many people who have diabetes do not know that they have it, making it a serious problem. The American Diabetes Association claims that more than 16 million Americans currently suffer from the condition. Diabetics not only suffer from the disease itself, but can also suffer from its complications, which include heart attack, stroke, renal (kidney) failure, and the need for amputations. Sometimes death can also be a complication. It is estimated that almost 170,000 Americans die a year from the disease.

People who suffer from diabetes either have insensitivity to the body’s insulin or are unable to produce enough insulin. Ordinarily, when we eat food, our body breaks it down into a sugar called glucose. Insulin helps glucose get into the body’s cells, where it is used as energy. When the body is insensitive or not producing enough insulin, glucose cannot get into the cells. Consequently, it builds up in the bloodstream, where, over time, it can damage the heart, kidneys, eyes, blood vessels and nerves.

The good news is that diabetes, while not curable, can be treated. With early diagnosis, many of its complications can be avoided. That’s why it’s so important to recognize signs of diabetes. There are three types of diabetes- Type I usually affects children and young adults. Type 2 ordinarily affects adults over 45 and Gestational diabetes develops in women during pregnancy.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common. About 95 percent of people who suffer from diabetes have this form of the disease. Although you may have no diabetes signs at all, if you or your children have any of the signs of diabetes, you should consult your doctor.

Signs of diabetes can be varied and can go unnoticed without vigilance. They include an atypical sensation of thirst, sometimes blue-ish vision, frequent urination, extreme tiredness, and weight loss without explanation. If you are 20% above your ideal weight for your age and sex, if you lead a largely sedentary lifestyle, or if diabetes runs in your family, you are at risk for diabetes. Giving birth to babies over 9 pounds or being over 45 years of age also increases your risk. The disease is more common in Hispanics, African-Americans, and American Indians, but anyone can develop diabetes.

Juvenile diabetes symptoms are mostly found in children and they may also be restless, apathetic, and have trouble functioning at school. In severe cases, diabetic coma may be the first sign of type 1 diabetes. Frequent urination (in children, a recurrence of bed-wetting after toilet training has been completed), unusual thirst, especially for sweet, cold drinks, extreme hunger, sudden, sometimes dramatic, weight loss, weakness, extreme fatigue, blurred vision or other changes in eyesight, irritability, nausea and vomiting are some of the juvenile diabetes symptoms.

Many people who have diabetes do not know that they have it, making it a serious problem since they don’t fully recognize diabetes signs and their implications. Diabetics not only suffer from the disease itself, but can also suffer from its complications, which include heart attack, stroke, renal (kidney) failure, and the need for amputations. Vision changes, frequent urination, a constant feeling of thirst, fatigue or extreme weight loss are all signs of diabetes. Restlessness, apathy and problems functioning at school are signs of juvenile diabetes symptoms. Diabetes is not currently curable; however, it can be successfully treated with proper diet, exercise, and coordination with your doctor.

- michael derad