The Classic Symptoms of Diabetes

Diabetes is the name for a number of diseases that involve the function of insulin which is a hormone our body produces to control the level of sugar in our blood. There are several different types of diabetes. They are put into 2 categories depending on what the actual problem is with insulin.

Type 1 diabetes, also known as insulin dependant diabetes is when the body does not produce insulin at all, the cells in the pancreas responsible for the production have been damaged or Type 2 diabetes is when the pancreas can produce insulin, but not enough or the body is unable to recognize the insulin to use it.

The symptoms for both forms can be the same as they both lead to a build up of glucose in the body, however the onset of these symptoms is much faster and they are more severe for those with Type 1 diabetes. Those with Type 2 diabetes generally dont pick up on it until they have a general medical check up or the symptoms lead to more serious complications such as problems with their sight.

Common symptoms can be one or more of the following:
- intense thirst and hunger
- increased urine output
- increased fatigue
- unexpected weight loss
- itching, especially in genital regions
- increased occurrences of yeast infections such as thrush
- blurred vision
- headaches
- some numbness
- slow healing wounds

Not necessarily are all these symptoms going to be present at the same time, and things like fatigue and weight loss can often be put down to age or stress, so someone experiencing this may not run to the doctor for tests straight away.

Once diabetes has been diagnosed in can be fairly easily treated, relieving the symptoms quickly. In many cases it is just a matter of making some adjustments to your diet to watch your sugar intake, or in the case of the more serious type 1 diabetes, testing blood sugar levels and administering insulin accordingly.

Diabetes can be a potentially harmful disease if not diagnosed in its early stages and monitored. It can lead to potentially life threatening complications, therefore if some of the above symptoms are noticed a visit to the doctor for a checkup could make a big difference.

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What is diabetes?

A disease in which the body cannot convert food into energy because of a lack of insulin (a hormone produced by the pancreas), or because of an inability to use insulin. Diabetes is a serious condition that can cause complications ranging from numbness to loss of vision to coma. It also significantly raises the risk for other problems, such as stroke and heart disease. About 17 million Americans have diabetes.
A hereditary or developmental problem with sugar metabolism. Caused by a failure of the pancreas to produce enough insulin. Juvenile diabetes, or type 1 diabetes, is treated with diet, exercise and insulin. Type 2, formerly called adult onset, is now seen in overweight children. It is treated with diet, exercise and medication. In severe cases, type 2 diabetes is also treated with insulin.
A chronic condition associated with abnormally high levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood. The two types of diabetes are referred to as insulin-dependent (type I) and non-insulin dependent (type II). Type I diabetes results from a lack of adequate insulin secretion by the pancreas. Type II diabetes (also known as adult-onset diabetes) is characterized by an insensitivity of the tissues of the body to insulin secreted by the pancreas (insulin resistance).