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How to Spot Symptoms of Diabetes

Glucose is a sugar that fuels the cells that make up your body. Diabetes is a group of related diseases that result in there being too much glucose in your bloodstream. Over time, diabetes eats away at your body's ability to run itself effectively and to repair any damage that might come up. Your best protection against diabetes is to remain on alert for symptoms and then see a doctor if you begin experiencing any of them.

  1. Mild Symptoms

    • According to WebMD, both hunger and general fatigue are common symptoms of diabetes because insufficient insulin makes it difficult for your body to use glucose as energy. Similarly, too much glucose forces your kidneys to work harder filtering your bloodstream. This results in increased urination, leading to increased thirst and related signs like a dry mouth. Other symptoms include blurred vision, headaches, and sudden weight loss.

    More Serious Symptoms

    • High levels of glucose in your bloodstream can cause an upswing in infections, according to MayoClinic.com. These can be infections of your skin, gums, urinary tract and anywhere where you have a cut or scrape. Ultimately, excess glucose places a strain on your immune system and wreaks havoc on your body's ability to effectively circulate oxygen. It can even damage your nerves, resulting in numbness or tingling in your extremities. Other serious symptoms include declining vision, possible loss of consciousness, and even impotency.

    Diabetes Complications

    • A sudden increase in glucose can cause your body to start breaking down your muscle and fat for energy, causing a potentially fatal chemical imbalance called diabetic ketoacidosis if left untreated. This is only one of the many possible complications that can rise from untreated diabetes listed on the American Diabetes Association website. Heart disease, kidney damage, vision loss, high blood pressure and mental health problems are all possible complications of diabetes. According to MayoClinic.com, there is even evidence that people with diabetes are more likely to come down with cancer.

    Differences Between Types

    • Type 1 diabetes is where the body has destroyed its ability to produce insulin, according to Medical News Today, while type 2 diabetes is where the body is either not producing enough insulin or not using it correctly. Although type 1 and type 2 diabetes share many of the same symptoms, sufferers tend not to experience them in the same manner. WebMD states that type 1 diabetes usually appears in either childhood or adolescence, while type 2 diabetes can strike at any age. People with type 1 diabetes tend to suffer symptoms faster and more severely, possibly resulting in their deaths if their condition is left untreated. In contrast, type 2 diabetes sufferers might not see symptoms or only very gradually until those symptoms turn into full-blown complications.

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