Know More About Diabetes: Signs and Symptoms

Diabetes is a condition in which a person’s body becomes unable to dissipate the glucose from the food it receives into the different cells to utilize it to provide energy to the body. As a result, the excess sugar tends to build up in the bloodstream causing high blood sugar levels. Thus, it becomes imperative to diagnose such a condition because mismanagement of high blood sugar levels can raise potential diabetes risks of damaging other body organs such as the eyes, heart, nerves, kidneys, etc. Read on to find out more about the different types of diabetes and its symptoms:

Types of Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes: Type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes, is an autoimmune disease wherein the immune system of people with Type 1 diabetes attacks their own body. In such a case, the pancreas, which is responsible for producing insulin, is attacked by the immune system. Type 1 diabetes can show up in children, youngsters, and adults. People with Type 1 diabetes are required to take insulin on a daily basis, due to which this diabetic condition is also termed as insulin-dependent diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes: Type 2 diabetes, also known as insulin-resistant diabetes or adult-onset diabetes, is a common diabetic condition that is usually seen in mid-aged and elderly people. In the case of Type 2 diabetes, a person's body does not produce enough insulin, or the cells of their body stop responding normally to the insulin produced.

Gestational diabetes: This type of diabetes shows up in some women during their pregnancy period, which goes away after their delivery. But such women remain at risk of accruing Type 1 diabetes at a later phase of life.

Prediabetes: This is a stage that commences before falling prey to Type 2 diabetes condition. Such people have their blood sugar levels slightly higher than the normal count, but the count is not recorded high enough to categorize the person as a type 2 diabetes patient.

Drug or chemical-induced diabetes: Such a condition does not occur naturally but results due to an organ transplant or consumption of medications that can trigger diabetes symptoms. The usage of steroids can also cause chemical-induced diabetes.

Early Symptoms of Diabetes

The symptoms of diabetes may vary from one person to another and majorly depends on the count of blood sugar level. Below mentioned are the early signs of diabetes that you are prone to notice in case you fall prey to it:

Tiredness

If you have type 2 diabetes, you may start feeling a deterioration in the energy levels you used to have before, which results in tiredness and fatigue.

Blurred vision

Blood sugar can also prove harmful to the eyes as excess blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels in the eyes. This can cause blurry vision in either one or both eyes. Another eye-related issue that one faces is swollen eye lenses which may again lead to blurry vision. But it tends to get better when the blood sugar lowers down. Also, it is imperative that such a person takes treatment, or the blood vessel damage can even lead to permanent loss of vision.

Longer time for healing of wounds and cuts

Higher sugar levels cause damaged nerves and blood vessels, resulting in impaired blood circulation. As a consequence, it takes a longer time for the body to heal wounds and cuts accrued. Slower healing of wounds also makes you prone to accruing infections.

Dark skin or patches

If you happen to notice darker skin on your armpit, groin, or neck area, probably it’s a sign that you have a diabetes condition. Such a skin condition in medical terms is referred to as acanthosis nigricans and results in soft and velvety dark-coloured patches.

Peeing often

When your blood sugar level rises, your kidneys get into action to filter out the excess sugar from the blood. Thus, it causes the person with diabetes to feel the urge to urinate frequently, especially at night.

Constant hunger pangs

Our digestive system stands responsible for breaking down food into glucose which is used as fuel for our body. But in the case of diabetic people, enough glucose amount does not get transported to the different cells of our body from the bloodstream. Thus, people who have diabetes do not get an adequate amount of energy from the food they consume and feel hungry often.

When to Visit a Doctor?

If you notice any of the signs and symptoms mentioned above, it is always a good idea to seek medical assistance. Your doctor can prescribe you tests that can help in diagnosing if you have diabetes or not. The earlier the diagnosis of blood sugar and the sooner you get treatment, the better will be your chances of fighting diabetes. Also, if you have been diagnosed with diabetes, make sure that you take the prescribed medications till you get to see stability in the blood sugar or as per the instructions of the medical practitioner.

Conclusion

Diabetes can be managed, but for this to happen, it is mandatory to identify the early symptoms of diabetes and seek treatment by consulting a doctor and making lifestyle changes. So, anyone who experiences diabetes symptoms should reach out to a doctor for an evaluation to get effective treatment to avoid severe complications and to improve the quality of one’s life.