There are an estimated 17 million people who suffer from diabetes in the United States today. This is an estimate because it is believed that almost 5.9 million of those people have not been diagnosed as diabetic by a doctor. Part of the reason for this is the fact that many times the first signs of diabetes are not that severe.

In fact many of those people who do go to the doctor because of the cause of their unknown symptoms are quite surprised when they are diagnosed with diabetes. That’s because during the early stages of this disease the symptoms are minor and are just kind of annoying. Many people who do get diagnosed are heard to remark “I don’t feel sick”.

Many people who are diagnosed as diabetic are done so after visiting their doctor because they think they are suffering from some other malady. Many of the early warning signs do mimic other diseases and conditions so it’s easy to see why this occurs.

Unfortunately dismissing these signs and symptoms can lead to a multitude of life threatening complications that include cardiovascular and heart problems, blindness, nerve damage, and many others. The sooner the diabetic is diagnosed the sooner they can begin to manage this disease and mitigate the complications it causes. At the present diabetes is sixth on the list of diseases that result in death.

The classic first signs of diabetes as listed by the American Diabetes Association include:

1. Urination Frequency – High blood sugar levels increases the amount of blood that flows through the kidneys, resulting in an increase in urine levels.

2. Extreme Thirst – Dehydration caused by the increased urinary output results in the diabetic drinking large amounts of water.

3. Feeling of Being Hungry all the Time – Insulin is the primary hormone that transports glucose from the blood stream and into the cells. Glucose is the primary source of cellular energy. Because diabetes is an absence of insulin or the inability of insulin to do its job (insulin resistance) the cells do not receive the glucose they need which results in hunger pains.

4. Weight Loss – This happens despite the fact that the diabetic is eating more. Again this has to do with the perceived energy shortage. The human body will begin to cannibalize itself, breaking down lean muscle mass to provide the cellular energy it thinks needs.

5. Fatigue – Feelings of being tired all the time are caused by the decrease in cellular energy levels.

6. Depression and Irritability.

7. Eye Problems – High blood glucose levels cause in increase in blood volume which can cause the lens of the eye to swell.

As you can see these symptoms don’t seem that bad and would give a person little reason to see a doctor. This is particularly true if you only have one or two of them, but eventually those with diabetes will begin to suffer from a majority of these symptoms that will get progressively worse.

The sooner you act on these first signs of diabetes the better your chances of being properly diagnosed. This is important because while diabetes does not have a cure it can be successfully managed with a healthy diet, exercise, and medication. Proper management is the key to minimizing the complication it causes and living a long and healthy life.

By: Brandy Serena