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Signs of Adult Diabetes

Adult diabetes or adult onset diabetes is now referred to as Type 2 diabetes. Even though it more commonly occurs in adults over 40, doctors are now diagnosing the chronic disease in young children. Adult diabetes can go undetected for 10 years or longer. People may feel tired, thirsty or have reoccurring headaches, but never associate it with high blood sugar. If not treated, adult diabetes can lead to deterioration of the body's organs.

  1. Process

    • Your body breaks down the food you eat into sugar called glucose. Glucose is used to supply energy. Insulin is used to move the glucose into the body cells. When the insulin fails to work properly, the glucose stays in the bloodstream causing high blood sugar. As years go by, the body becomes insulin resistant making it even more difficult for the glucose to enter the body's cells.

    Risks

    • Diabetes can raise blood pressure and lead to heart disease, strokes, blindness, kidney disease and loss of limbs. Between 60 and 70 percent of people with diabetes have some form of nervous system damage, according to the American Diabetes Association.

    Symptoms

    • Common effects include unquenchable thirst, frequent urination, blurred vision and headaches. There may be a burning sensation in the extremities such as the feet. The feet may itch or fingers may tingle. Some people are tired all the time; others complain of being hungry. Wounds may take longer to heal and infections longer to treat.

    Indirect Symptoms

    • As diabetes affects the circulatory system, it may contribute to high blood pressure, a heart condition or stroke. The disease is the leading cause of kidney damage, according to the American Diabetes Association. It also may take a toll on the nervous system, causing indigestion and nausea.

    Prevention/Solution

    • If you are over 40 and your family has a history of diabetes, ask your physician about testing you for the disease. A fasting test and an A1c test are the two most common procedures. With a fasting test, you abstain from eating for up to 14 hours. Then your blood is drawn to check its sugar level; average levels are 70 to 100 milligrams per deciliter. An A1c test, which can be performed in you doctor's office, provides a picture of your blood sugar level over a two-to-three month period.

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