The problem with the early stage of diabetes symptoms is the very mild condition happening to your body – or you probably develop no symptoms at all! This kind of thing makes people unaware that they are actually sick – that there is something wrong with the system. When people are unaware of their own condition, little chance that they will have themselves checked and examined. That’s why diabetes is often undetected, until it is too late.
Only a few people, who are very conscious about their health and condition, will notice such a change in their system. These kinds of people usually have a regular checkup schedule and they know the details of their own condition. But then again, such people are pretty rare. Most of us are pretty ignorant about our own health until the problem develops and gets worse.
Diabetes Type 1 and Type 2
In most cases, people with diabetes type 2 don’t really realize that they are suffering from the issue because they don’t have any complaint at all. But do you know that there is a situation, called as the prediabetes which leads to diabetes type 2. This condition has no symptom at all and when it does, the symptoms would develop very slowly.
When it comes to diabetes symptoms, it is more visible and apparent for diabetes type 1 (see alse: Has Anyone Ever Cured or Reversed Type 1 Diabetes?), because of the hereditary factor. But when the condition gets worse, it can happen so sudden and often accompanied by stomach pain, vomiting, and nausea. That’s why it is always advisable that you get yourself checked if you suffer from a suspicious condition – no matter how small or unimportant it may seem. In most cases, people suffering from diabetes find out about the situation only a little too late, which makes the management and solution difficult to cope. As you are well aware, diabetes is a condition that can’t be cured, but it can be managed. You can live normally as long as you know how to manage your lifestyle and consumption properly.
The Most Common Symptoms
You should check yourself right away if you find two or three of these symptoms:
More Frequent Urination
Be alerted when you urinate more than usual these days. If you have to make frequent trip to the toilet – way more than the usual – it is likely that you start showing the symptoms. Too much sugar (glucose) in the blood will cause more often urination, which is actually an alarming alert. You see, when you don’t have enough insulin (or your current insulin level is unable to handle the load of work), your kidneys won’t be able to do its job in filtering the glucose. As the result, many of them will return to your blood. At the meantime, the kidneys will take the water (from the blood) to dilute the sugar. In the end, the water will fill your bladder up.
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Continuous Thirst
Do you feel always thirsty? Be careful. It may be a sign that you are suffering from the diabetes. Because you loss the liquid through urination, your body is suffering from liquid loss. To make it up, it needs to replace the loss water, which leads to constant (and pretty abnormal) thirst.
Constant and Extreme Hunger
Since the insulin isn’t working as it is supposed to, the cells don’t get enough energy to get the work done. In the end, your body will try its best to find the energy, which generally comes from food. When you are always hungry, even after a big meal, you should get yourself checked.
Drastic Weight Change
It can be a drastic weight gain or also weight loss. If you are constantly hungry, it will result in the weight gain, naturally. However, in serious or severe diabetes problem, the cells are seriously lacking of energy because the glucose can’t be properly produced. To overcome the deficit, the fat and muscle tissue will break down so they can be converted to energy. The weight loss may be apparent in diabetes type 1. If you are suffering from diabetes type 2, it is likely a sign that the condition is getting worse.
Irritability
One of the most common diabetes symptoms is irritability and increased sensitivity. It is likely resulted from the constant lack of energy or non-stop fatigue. You won’t be cheerful if you are continuously feeling tired and yet you have plenty on your plate.
Increased and Non-stop Fatigue
Because the insulin isn’t enough or isn’t properly functioning, your cells won’t get the needed sugar. As the result, they don’t get the energy they need. It will make you constantly feel tired.
Bruises and Cuts Don’t Quickly or Properly Heal
Since your blood contains too much glucose (more than it should have), it hinders the body’s natural ability to heal itself, including bruises and cuts. Be wary of this sign – it is pretty obvious.
Itchy Skin and Dryness
The body will need the water to filter out your blood and then more water will be removed from the body through peeing. Your body is dehydrating – it doesn’t get enough moisture to function properly. Dry mouth and dry skin are the most common symptoms. Excessive dryness on the skin can make it itchy. If it is serious, scratching it will only make it worse because you may cut or damage yourself. And then the body can’t heal properly and the infection will get worse. It is like a vicious cycle, really.
Blurry Vision
There are some reasons why your sights are affected. First of all, your tissue may be pulled out from the lenses. Remember, all tissues are deteriorating because of the lack of energy and sugar. Second, the drastic changes of fluid level (within the body) can result in the swelling of your eyes. When the eyes have changed shape, they may lose the ability to focus.
Sexual Dysfunction
This is especially happen to men, including erectile dysfunction. Put it this way: Men are naturally passionate creatures. Healthy men won’t have problems with their sexual desire. If you, or anyone you know, don’t have that kind of sexual passion or desire, there’s had to be something wrong. Go and check it – you may be suffering from a diabetes.
Those are some of the general diabetes symptoms that can happen to any diabetes type. However, if you suffer from diabetes type 1, the symptoms are narrower. The symptoms may include unplanned or drastic weight loss, as previously explained. Another symptom includes vomiting and nausea. It is mostly caused by the so-called diabetic ketoacidosis, which can make you sick and affecting your stomach.
In diabetes type 2, the symptoms include numbness in the legs and hands. The damage in the system has affected the nerves. That’s why you are experiencing numbness or tingling sensation. The slow heal of bruises and cuts are also common among diabetes patients type 2. Moreover, the chances of you suffering from yeast infection are higher. You see, yeast love glucose so much because it is their food. When you have excessive glucose in your body, the yeast will likely thrive and grow. It is most likely that the yeast grow under the breasts, around or in the genitals, and also between toes and fingers – although it is also likely that they grow elsewhere in the body. They like moist and warm areas, especially within the skin folds.
See also: Juvenile Diabetes Symptoms In 5 Year Old
Getting Diagnosed
If you have those symptoms – more likely two or three symptoms – you should get yourself checked. If you have a condition that is risky for diabetes or you are more than 45 years of age, get yourself tested. If you can spot the signs earlier, you can avoid serious conditions, such as heart issue, nerve damage, and other serious complications.
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Be Aware of the Condition
If you have these conditions, go to the doctor or a specialist right away:
- You are urinating very much
- You are always weak, feeling sick a lot to your stomach, and always thirsty
- You have a serious belly pain
- You are breathing faster and more deeply than usual
- You have sweet breath – smelling like the remover of nail polish
In general, your doctor will perform several tests to confirm your condition. The urine test is done to find out whether you have excessive glucose in your urine. Then there is a blood test to measure your blood sugar level.
Prediabetes and the Best Treatment
When your blood sugar is increasing, but your condition hasn’t reached the level or condition for type 2 diabetes, it is called as the prediabetes situation. Before it is too late, you can always turn the situation around. By implementing lifestyle change and healthier life, such a condition can be prevented. But you can do it only through regular exercise, weight loss, and also healthy diet.
Facts about Diabetes Treatments
Now that you already know about diabetes symptoms facts, there are some things to know about the proper treatment for your condition.
- In most diabetes solution and treatment, the main purpose is to control the blood glucose (or sugar) so further complications can be prevented or avoided
- Diabetes type 1 can be managed with diet changes, exercise, and insulin
- Diabetes type 2 can be managed with insulin, diet changes, weight reduction, and also non-insulin drugs (medication)
- The treatment for diabetes can include pancreas transplantation but it only happens when the problem is too severe
- Any diabetes care or management plan will include proper nutrition.
- There is no such a thing as specific diet that can apply for all individuals. The treatment should be implemented based on individual needs. That’s why you should consult your doctor and find the best solution based on your condition.
Treatments for Diabetes Type 2
As it was mentioned before, the treatment is based on each individual’s condition. When doctors are formulating a way to deal with the issue, they need to consider these things:
- The patients’ condition and underlying health status
- The effectiveness of each medication, including the side effect possibility and profile
- The cost of the health care system or the individual patient
- Any possible medication compliance problem
It is important to note that different medication can work differently, depending on the condition and also the blood sugar level. That’s why the medication is often combined, not solely consisting of a certain medication. The medicine may:
- Increase the glucose excretion
- Increase sensitivity to insulin
- Work through different other mechanism
- Decrease carbs absorption from the digestive system
Not to mention that insulin can be delivered in various different ways, including through syringes (injections), insulin pump, or pre-filled pens.
About Diabetes Diet
When it comes to dieting, it is crucial to make sure that the body doesn’t lack of the needed nutrients. The idea is to have a balanced outcome. One of the key is about proper nutrition, making sure that you have enough nutrients – not too much and not too little. Once you are able to control the blood sugar level, it will lead to healthy condition.
As it was mentioned before, there is no universal diabetes diet. Everything should be adjusted and tailored to different individual and needs. The diet plan should be adjusted to each person’s schedules, eating habit, lifestyle, and needs. Not only it should have a balanced consumption, it should have a balanced input of diabetes medication and insulin. It would be best for the diabetes patients to have more, but smaller, meals all through the day than to have only 1 or 2 big meals. It will maintain the proper sugar level. Now that you already know the diabetes symptoms, you can be prepared and be ready.