|  | Conditions Treatments | Diabetes

Sign & Symptoms of Diabetes

Diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus, is a medical condition that is characterized by abnormally high levels of sugar (glucose) in the body of an individual. Diabetes generally occurs in a person when his body loses its capabilities to properly utilize and secrete the enzyme insulin, which is very essential, as it helps in converting sugars and glucose into energy. Thus due to lack or improper functioning of insulin, large amount of glucose and sugars get accumulated in the body thereby leading to diabetes.

  1. Types of Diabetes

    • Diabetes is generally classified and divided into three major categories, namely type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes.
      Type 1 diabetes, also known as insulin dependent diabetes, is a medical condition in which the pancreas produces no or very little insulin. This form of diabetes generally occurs in children and adolescents; however the reason for such occurrence is not known clearly.
      Type 2 diabetes, also commonly known as non-insulin dependent diabetes, is a medical condition in which the body of the individual becomes resistant to the various effects of the enzyme insulin. Leaving this form of diabetes untreated can be quite fatal as it can even lead to death. This form of diabetes is more common than type 1 and generally occurs at any age and among all age groups.
      Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that occurs exclusively in pregnant women. Like all other types of diabetes this form is also characterized by the inadequate production of insulin thus affecting the utilization of sugar by the body.

    Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes

    • The primary symptoms that are associated with type 1 diabetes include nausea and frequent vomiting. Other symptoms that are associated with type 1 diabetes include excessive loss of weight and dehydration that is generally caused because of the electrolyte imbalance in the body.
      In some cases a condition known as ketoacidosis is often associated with type 1 diabetes. This is a condition mainly found in patients suffering from advanced form of insulin dependent diabetes, and is generally characterized by breaking of various muscle tissues in the body.

    Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes

    • The most common symptoms that are often associated with type 2 diabetes include increased levels of fatigue and tiredness even while sitting, which is caused by a lack of energy produced by the body. Other symptoms include poor wound healing capabilities of the body, which is mainly caused by the excessive sugar levels in the body, which prevent the production of white blood corpuscles that are essential for the process of wound healing. Another symptom associated with non-insulin dependent diabetes is increased attacks of infections, mainly skin infections, due to the fluctuating levels of sugar in the body.

    Other General Symptoms

    • Some of the symptoms that are common to both forms of diabetes include polydipsia, or excessive thirst; polyphagia, or excessive hunger; and polyuria, excessive urination. Another common symptom associated with both forms of diabetes is blurry vision due to increased levels of glucose in the body.

    Insulin Therapy

    • The most common and widely accepted treatment method that is used to treat both forms of diabetes is the insulin therapy. In this treatment method the patient is administered with artificial insulin drugs such as Humulin R, insulin isophane and Humalog, as these act as natural insulin that is produced in the body and thus help in breaking down sugars and glucose into energy.

Diabetes - Related Articles