Diabetes signs and symptoms are sometimes subtle and hard to recognize. It is estimated that close to 5.7 million people are living with diabetes and don’t realize it. They are completely unaware that they have the deadly disease—diabetes. Furthermore, it is estimated that 57 million Americans have pre-diabetes.
Diabetes is the fifth deadliest disease in America. High blood sugar can lead to serious health complications, with heart disease topping the list. Heart disease is the leading cause of early death in people diagnosed with diabetes. Unfortunately, diabetes is on the rise; therefore, it is important to be able to recognize diabetes signs and symptoms so that you are not caught unaware.
Discovering and taking notice of early diabetic signs is vital if you are going to have a fighting chance of preventing diabetes altogether. Learn to recognize these 8 early diabetes signs and symptoms.
Diabetes Signs and Symptoms – Do You Have Any of These Common Signs?
Diabetes Signs and Symptoms
1. Frequent Urination
Someone suffering from diabetes passes large quantities of urine several times a day. There is a frequent urge to empty one’s bladder at night. When glucose cannot enter the body cells, it accumulates in the blood and starts appearing in the urine. Diabetics are prone to excessive urination because the glucose in the urine draws water out of the body in larger-than-normal quantities.
2. Increased Thirst
The loss of water from excessive urination generates excessive thirst. A patient of diabetes frequently fells thirsty and drinks larges quantities of water at short intervals.
3. Extreme Hunger
Diabetics tend to feel hungry most of the time and eat large meals. They eat and too much, but despite this, they continue to experience hunger pangs.
4. Loss of Weight
Continual loss of weight despite the intake of frequent and large meals is another symptom of the disease. The body is starved of energy, as glucose cannot enter the cells. In a desperate effort to acquire energy, the starved cells use up fat and protein. This causes loss of weight.
5. Weakness and Fatigue
Diabetics fatigue quickly even after little exertion. They also feel out of breath easily. The sugar in the blood does not get into the cells where it is converted into energy. This lowers the stamina and resistance levels.
6. Depression
Inertia and lethargy are also seen in people suffering from diabetes. They avoid doing work and often feel rundown. Also, their mood can reflect a state of depression.
7. Wounds Heal Slowly
Someone who has diabetes may have cuts, sores or bruises (especially on your feet) that are slow to heal.
8. Blurry Vision
Sometimes someone with diabetes can have blurry vision. It is important to be careful, because untreated eye problems caused through diabetes can lead to blindness. Everyone should have regular eye exams, especially as you get older, because your eyes can be the early warning signal for many diseases—not just diabetes.
9. Excessive Itching
Finally, someone suffering from diabetes may experience excessive itching or soreness in the genital area or yeast infections (which can be misdiagnosed as thrush). This may be a sign of too much sugar in the urine.
If you have two or more of these early diabetes signs and symptoms, you should seriously consider getting yourself checked out by your family doctor or local physician.
Diabetes Signs and Symptoms – Factors That May Put You at Higher Risk of Becoming Diabetic
There are several different types of diabetes; pre-diabetes, type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes and maturity onset diabetes. And, depending on your age, lifestyle and family history, you may be more susceptible to developing diabetes.
- For example, you may be more likely to develop diabetes if any of these factors apply to you:
- Your family background is African American, American Indian, Asian American, Pacific Islander, or Hispanic American/Latino.
- You have a parent, or sibling with diabetes.
- You are aged 45 or older and are overweight. This can put you at risk of diabetes type 2.
- You have had gestational diabetes or have given birth to a baby over 9 pounds in weight.
- You have high blood pressure.
- Your cholesterol levels are not good.
Diabetes Signs and Symptoms – It is Always Best to Stop Diabetes Before it Starts
In 2005, diabetes claimed an alarming 233,619 lives. It is believed that the number could have been higher since most deaths of the elderly had multiple chronic conditions associated with their death including diabetes. Many people do not know that they have diabetes until they develop other life threatening conditions such as, heart disease, high blood pressure, blindness, kidney damage, nervous system damage, dental disease, sexual dysfunction, and a number of other complications.
Therefore, it is vitally important to learn to recognize early diabetes signs and symptoms and stop diabetes before it stops! Being checked by your physician on a regular basis is absolutely necessary for your overall quality of life. If you have not already been diagnosed with diabetes, there is no other way of knowing that you have this deadly disease without a check up.
You may also want to read about how diet can affect diabetes signs and symptoms and your ability to avoid ending up with diabetes in the first place.
DISCLAIMER: This information is provided for educational and informational purposes only. The content contained herein is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard or delay seeking professional medical advice because of something you may have read.
