Diabetes mellitus refers to the imbalance of blood sugar levels, and from this imbalance many other diseases emerge. Diabetes may result in death or disability. Diabetes is a major cause of blindness and lower limb amputation. Diabetes causes damage to many different types of tissues and body systems. It also affects other parts of the body such as the kidneys and even the eyes.

Some leading causes of diabetes are insulin resistance or the inability to produce insulin. Commonly the concentration of blood glucose varies throughout the day. A hormone secreted by the pancreas, by the name insulin, helps in lowering the level of glucose in the blood. Diabetes occurs as the concentration of glucose increases and remains high over time. Hyperglycemia occurs when blood sugar is high.

Diabetes Symptoms

There are many symptoms of diabetes and they are not all listed in this article.

Acute symptoms occur when the level of blood sugar is very high. The common ones include sudden change in appetite, increased thirst, and frequent urination. High blood sugar results in thickening of the blood, which is likely the result of more sugar concentrated in the bloodstream. Sugar gets released into the urine by the kidneys, which pulls water with it, making the body dehydrate. The other signs and symptoms that occur when the glucose level goes up include reduced vision, getting tired, dry mouth, tingling or pain in the extremities, yeast infection, rashes, and many others.

Early Diabetes Symptoms

The symptoms are usually only noticeable once the diabetes has become intense. During the early occurrence of diabetes, the symptoms maybe not be frequent or they may not display at all. The patients may not show any signs. This is important because the increased sugar levels might be doing damage to your organs before the symptoms appear. That is why early diagnosis is key to fighting diabetes.

Diabetes Risk Factors

There are many risk factors of diabetes and they are not all listed in this article.

It is important to learn about your own risk of diabetes. Knowing whether you are at high risk for developing diabetes can help you to be aware and get screened early. The most common form of diabetes is called Type II Diabetes, or adult onset diabetes. While it generally occurs in adults, it can affect younger people too. Obesity is one potential risk factor for type-2 diabetes. Many of the risk factors for this type of diabetes are well understood.

First, obesity and a lack of physical activity may increase your risk for type II diabetes considerably. A genetic link to diabetes is another potential factor; which means that family history and ethnicity are important predictors. If you have close family members with Type II diabetes, then you are at high risk.

Both physical activity and exercise help to control blood glucose and weight. Improving your diet and reducing weight can enhance your body’s ability to keep glucose in a reasonable range. Other factors, such as stopping smoking, lowering blood pressure and cholesterol can also help control the disease. Always consult a clinician before making these changes.

Type 1 Diabetes

It is also known as juvenile-onset diabetes. Type-1 diabetes is the less frequent of the types of diabetes. It is commonly present in children. It is a more severe form of the disorder because the pancreas, which secretes insulin, is entirely dysfunctional and little or no insulin is secreted. Victims can quickly develop severe hyperglycemia and the symptoms associated with it such as increased thirst, hunger, and frequent urination. There are many other symptoms not listed here.  Patients can develop diabetic ketoacidosis and diabetic coma if not treated quickly by a clinician.

In Conclusion

In conclusion, everyone should be aware of the early signs of diabetes as well as the risk factors associated with the disease. Through education, you can judge your risk of the illness better and catch early symptoms of the disease as well. Making an early diagnosis of diabetes helps prevent the long-term effects caused by the disease.

*The author of this blog is not a medical professional and this article does not contain professional medical advice. This blog is not intended to substitute for medical advice, treatment, or diagnosis. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of the contents of this article. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.