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 Some diseases develop so slowly and the symptoms may be so mild that a person doesn’t realize anything is wrong. The onset of Diabetes can be like that. Many people mistake the symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes for problems of aging when, in fact, what they’re experiencing, is related to the build-up of glucose, or sugar, in their blood.
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Type 1 Diabetes
Symptoms
The
process that destroys the insulin-producing beta
cells can be a long and insidious one. At the
point when insulin production bottoms out,
however, type 1 diabetes usually appears suddenly
and progresses quickly. Warning signs of type 1
diabetes include:
- Frequent urination (in children, a
recurrence of bed-wetting after toilet training
has been completed).
- Unusual thirst, especially for sweet, cold
drinks.
- Extreme hunger.
- Sudden, sometimes dramatic, weight loss.
- Weakness.
- Extreme fatigue.
- Blurred vision or other changes in eyesight.
- Irritability.
- Nausea and vomiting (acute symptoms).
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Type 2 Diabetes
Symptoms
Type
2 diabetes usually begins gradually and progresses
slowly. Symptoms in adults include the following:
- Excessive thirst.
- Increased urination.
- Fatigue.
- Blurred vision.
- Weight loss.
- In women, vaginal yeast infections or fungal
infections under the breasts or in the groin.
- Severe gum problems.
- Itching.
- Impotence in men.
- Unusual sensations, such as tingling or
burning, in the extremities.
Symptoms in children are often
different:
- Most children are obese or overweight.
- Increased urination is mild or even absent.
- Many develop a skin problem called
acanthosis, which is characterized by velvety,
dark colored patches of skin.
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Glossary of Terms Concerning Diabetes:
beta cell: specialized cells that are found in the pancreas. These cells sense how much glucose or sugar is in the bloodstream and, in healthy people, produce just enough insulin to help the body use the glucose. In people with diabetes, beta cells no longer produce insulin or don't produce enough of it.
blood glucose (blood sugar):a form of sugar that is produced upon digestion of certain types of foods. Glucose travels through the bloodstream to cells where, with the help of insulin, it is burned to give you energy. Blood glucose levels tell how much glucose is traveling in your bloodstream and is measured to see how well your insulin is working.
gestational diabetes: diabetes that occurs during pregnancy; a woman’s body is unable to use glucose during this time. Gestational diabetes is treated very aggressively because high blood sugars during pregnancy because problems in the fetus.
hyperglycemia:a side effect of diabetes that occurs when blood sugar levels fall too low. Symptoms can include sweating, dizziness, confusion, heart pounding, and headache. Treatment is usually a sweet snack to raise blood sugar. Also called an insulin reaction.
hyperosmolar-nonketotic coma:a condition that occurs when blood sugar levels get so high the person becomes dehydrated, possibly leading to convulsions; signaled by excessive thirst or urination, drowsiness, vomiting, abdominal pain. Emergency care is necessary.
impaired glucose tolerance: a condition in which the body does not process blood sugar in the proper way.
insulin: a hormone, or chemical "messenger" that is normally produced in the beta cells of the pancreas and helps body cells to admit glucose.
insulin resistance:a condition in which a person may have plenty of insulin circulating in the body but, for some reason, the body resists using it to get glucose into the cells. Insulin resistance is a common condition in Type 2 diabetes.
mg/dl. milligrams per deciliter: measurement used to describe blood sugar levels; for example, a level of 140 mg/dl means there is 140 milligrams of glucose in one deciliter of blood.
nephropathy: a condition in which the kidneys' ability to filter wastes from the blood is damaged; a common complication of diabetes. An early sign of this is spilling protein in the urine. Health care providers closely monitor for protein spillage in the urine.
retinopathy: a condition in which the blood vessels in the retina, at the back of the eye, are damaged, leading to vision problems and possibly blindness; a common complication of diabetes.
If you have any of these symptoms, get your
Diabetes Health Care Kit so you can learn
how to contact your health care provider right away and get tested
or screened the right way. |
