subject: Diabetes Signs - Symptoms You Shouldn't Ignore [print this page] Diabetes Type 1 and Type 2 are very different, yet serious conditions that need to be treated right away. If you are experiencing any of the diabetes signs we mention here, we recommend making an appointment with your health care provider as soon as possible to address the concern. With type two diabetes, making diet changes and lifestyle changes may prevent the actual onset of the condition. Diet and lifestyle changes will also make the condition more manageable.
Frequent Urination
Frequently going to the bathroom is a sign of diabetes because the kidneys cannot filter the excess glucose from the body and put it back into the blood. When this happens, they pull extra water from the body to help dilute the blood sugar, causing you to have to go more often.
Excessive Thirst
Since the body is pulling more water to dilute the blood sugar, you are likely to find yourself dehydrated and need to drink more water. If you are thirsty and don't see yourself going to the bathroom often, the body is holding on to the water out of being dehydrated. This is a sign of diabetes to worry about especially when it presents itself with the frequent urination.
Feeling Weak and Tired
This is a feeling many people get after they eat a meal heavy in glucose. When the body gets loaded down with sugar, it tends to make you feel weak and sluggish because it cannot process it into energy the same way it can the healthy food choices. Make some dietary changes to combat this sign and the condition all together.
Tingling or Numb Sensations in the Hands and Feet
Also known as neuropathy, this tingling sensation in the hands and/or feet happens when nerve damage occurs from the high blood sugar levels in the body. Since it takes a gradual build up of high blood sugar levels for this to occur, sometimes the sugar levels can be high for years before people get a diagnosis, and the nerve damage has already started. The symptoms of neuropathy are usually improved by getting blood sugar levels under control with diet and lifestyle changes.
Losing Weight without Trying To
This is a sign of Type 1 Diabetes. Since the pancreas stops making insulin and the cells are not getting the glucose they need for energy production, the body looks to other sources such as muscle to break down for energy. Since Type 2 diabetes deals with a gradual resistance to insulin, the weight loss is gradual and generally not as noticeable.
Other Diabetes Signs Worth Mentioning
If you are experiencing blurred vision, skin that is excessively dry and/or itchy, or bruises, cuts, and infections are taking longer to heal, it may be time to see your doctor. While other afflictions can cause these symptoms, it is important to rule out diabetes as a cause before going on to something more serious, or thinking it is something more minor. It is important to note that we are not professionals and therefore cannot provide real medical advice. The information in this article is provided strictly for informational purposes only and should not be construed as anything differently.
