Diabetes is a disease that all too often goes undetected because the symptoms are either so mild or common to other problems. Because of this, many people walk around with diabetes without even knowing it until they finally go to the doctor for a blood and urine test. This article is going to review the most common symptoms of diabetes so that you’re alerted to what to look out for. The sooner your diabetes is diagnosed, the quicker you can receive treatment.
Probably the most common symptom of diabetes is extreme thirst. The reason for this is that the kidneys of a diabetic spill excessive levels of glucose into the urine which results in taking more water with it. That’s why diabetics are so thirsty, because they are losing more water than non diabetics.
Another common symptom of diabetes is frequent urination. This is also caused by the same problem as above. Diabetics usually wake up many times during the night. Diabetics have a difficult time taking long trips because of this urination problem.
Another common symptom of diabetes is extreme hunger. This is caused by the body not producing enough insulin, which is needed for glucose to enter our cells. Because our cells don’t get enough glucose, which gives us our energy, we are constantly hungry. This same problem also causes fatigue and weight loss as well.
Another common symptom of diabetes is headache. The reason diabetics get headaches frequently is because our brain cells need a constant supply of energy, which they are not getting because not enough glucose is getting into our cells. This also tends to make diabetics nervous and irritable.
Another very common problem of diabetes is blurred vision, which can ultimately lead to blindness if your diabetes isn’t kept in check. The reason for the blurred vision is because of the high levels of glucose in the cells. This damages the cells and causes them to leak. This makes the retina bleed and swell, which is what causes the blurred vision.
There are many more symptoms of diabetes such as abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, skin infections, impotence, wounds that take a long time to heal, no tolerance to cold, itching, numbness in fingers and toes, heart palpitations and excessive perspiration.
Because many of these symptoms can occur with other diseases, it is important to see your doctor for a blood test and urinalysis in order to determine whether or not you have diabetes.
Diabetes, if caught early, can be treated and controlled.
To YOUR Health,
Steve Wagner
By: S. Wagner
Posts Tagged ‘Symptoms Diabetes’
Diabetes Symptoms
April 29th, 2010Diabetes and The Menopause
March 12th, 2010
You might be thinking “What’s the connection between diabetes and the menopause?”
Well, for ladies reaching that certain age, it can be very traumatic – especially when some of the effects experienced can easily be mistaken for those we have to be aware of when managing our diabetes…
For a diabetic taking medication, keeping blood sugars at the right level is a balancing act. If sugar levels drop too low, because of not eating enough or at the right times, you suffer a hypoglycemia episode (sometimes called ‘hypo’ for short). For me, this usually manifests itself as shaking; irritability; sweating and a faint-headed feeling. If you are diabetic and have ever had low-blood sugar you may recognize some of these symptoms, amongst others. A quick ‘glucose fix’ usually settles it within 5-10 minutes.
Now, compare that to some of the symptoms of starting the menopause; hot flushes [I call them 'power-surges' 
] – similar to the sweats of a hypo; mood swings – akin to the irritability you might experience during a hypo. It’s very easy to confuse the symptoms you are feeling.
When I first started the menopause, I frequently confused waking at 2 a.m. in the morning in a cold sweat as a hypo and took a quick sugar boost to settle myself. That pushed my blood sugar levels up when I didn’t need it. Not a good idea!
It was only after visiting my Doctor to talk about these frequent, unexpected hypos I discovered I was starting the menopause (I was in my late 40s, so it was rather unexpected, normally it doesn’t occur until early-to-mid 50s).
If you are a lady, with diabetes controlled by medication, and you are in your early 50s and you start having frequent, unexplained hypos – check your sugar levels before ‘treating the condition’. And get your Doctor to check your symptoms. You may be confusing symptoms of diabetes and the menopause.
And guys; if your lady normally has great control of her diabetes and suddenly seems to be showing the same symptoms when she was getting her diabetes into balance (if you knew her then) please be supportive and understanding, she’s going through one hell of an experience, but I promise, she will come through and be her normal, loving and charming self once again.
By: Carol Ann Bentley
Defying The Death Symptoms Of Diabetes
March 3rd, 2010
There is the threat of lapsing into a coma because of low levels of glucose. Maybe you have forgotten and taken too much insulin and experienced the same results It is great that a little sip of orange juice or a small piece of candy will bring you back around in a lot of cases. Day in and day out you labor with diabetes,giving yourself insulin or the not so laborious route of taking pills. You say to yourself…I am tired of this. But you realize you have to do this to live. Suddenly you think….There must be a better way.
If you are one of the lucky ones,your mind settles on supplements. You realize there has to be more,something better,a way to deny the symptoms of diabetes the free reign to tear down your body,to shut down your kidneys,to cause you to have to deal with diabetic nerve damage. You decide within yourself…I am going to fight,deny and defy this sickness the control of my being. I refuse to give in or up.
Now you are interested in knowing all there is to know about diabetes. You find out that it is a failure by your body to metabolize fat. A failure of the pancreas to produce adequate amounts of insulin,a failure of your body to use the insulin produced. But you are determined not to allow one last failure. You will not fail in fighting this illness. You prefer the supplements route. You determine to give your body what it needs to function properly without so much outside assistance from insulin.
Medical supervision is necessary and you inform your doctor of your intentions.Because diabetes can be insulin dependent or not insulin dependent,you carefully map out a plan of attack. You change your lifestyle,and take supplements that contribute to sugar control and prevention or management of diabetic complications.
You start to take vitamins….C,E,Bilberry,,magnesium,along with about six other supplements daily. Shortly you notice a difference. You do not feel the same,you do not take as much insulin,your doctor suggests reducing insulin intake,finally you realize,though the war is not over yet,because you have a few battles left. But finally victory is attainable. You feel like moving forward.
Sometimes defiance in the face of sickness,nets us satisfaction…A goal can be reached if you believe it can,and strive toward the desired effect.
By: Ollie Rush
