Do You Know the Symptoms of Diabetes?

Obesity is one of the main causes of Diabetes. Research has shown that 60 - 85 % of Diabetic cases are linked to the patient being overweight. Diabetes is therefore sometimes termed the “prosperity disease” because it’s a condition primarily associated with affluent societies and a diet that contains excessive sugar and refined carbohydrates and harmful quantities of proteins and fats; foods generally not consumed in large amounts in peasant societies.

Diabetes affects the body’s ability to produce insulin with the result that glucose remains in the blood which may in turn have a harmful effect on your eyesight, nerves, kidneys, heart and blood vessels.

Research has also found a connection between a level of stress and Diabetes mellitus. If you feel you are under a lot of stress you may want to consider making adjustments to your lifestyle. Smoking can be another important risk factor with men especially at risk. Among men who smoke, the risk of developing Diabetes is doubled. For a women, smoking on average 25 cigarettes a day, the risk of developing Diabetes is increased by nearly 40 percent.

People who live a sedentary lifestyle also have a greater risk of developing Diabetes. Exercise helps control your weight and consumes a lot of the glucose present within the blood. It also makes your cells more sensitive to insulin which has the beneficial effect of reducing the workload upon your pancreas.

What are some of the signs commonly associated with the onset of Diabetes? There are certain symptoms that can forewarn you of a problem. These can include excessive urination, constant thirst, unexplained loss of weight, nausea, extreme tiredness, infections, pronounced irritability and extreme tiredness.

Extreme thirst without obvious cause is often a warning symptom of Diabetes. Diabetes develops high blood sugar levels and the body tries to compensate by diluting the blood which registers in the brain that we are thirsty. Even after drinking a lot of water, if you have a dry mouth and you find yourself having to urinate frequently then you should check with your doctor.
Blurred vision, extreme itching or soreness in the genital area or frequent yeast infections of the vagina can also be warning symptoms of Diabetes. As can an unexplained absence of menstruation in women.

One of the hardest symptoms to deal with is poor wound healing. If you are finding that your wounds are healing more slowly than usual, it could point to the onset of Diabetes. If you find that, in addition to slow healing, wounds are becoming infected or ulcerous then you should seek medical advice as soon as possible.

We all live pretty stressful lives and it isn’t unusual to become tired but if you are showing signs of extreme fatigue, and sleeping isn’t recharging your batteries then again this may possibly be a symptom of Diabetes and should consult your doctor.

Some people with Diabetes can experience unexplained weight loss. This is often because their bodies are unable to process many of the calories they are consuming. Losing sugar and water in the urine also contributes to the weight loss. It is another way our bodies try to get rid of the extra sugar within our system. Excessive urination can also lead to dehydration which is damaging.
It is worth bearing in mind that almost one third of all people in the United Kingdom with Diabetes aren’t aware they have it. The symptoms often just get confused with simply getting older.

Once diagnosed, you will have to keep a check on your blood sugar level. This is much less of a challenge than it ever used to be. There are several products available that can help you accurately measure your blood sugar level. These are - Accu-Chek Aviva Blood Glucose Meters, Freestyle Freedom Lite Blood Glucose Monitor’s and Accu-Chek Compact Test Strips.

For many people being diagnosed with Diabetes doesn’t need to involve a complete change in lifestyle. For example, whilst a change in overall diet is recommended you can continue to eat sweets, desserts and cakes if you switch to diabetic chocolates and sugar substitutes such as Canderel. 

If, after reading this article, you feel that you may be suffering from any of the symptoms of Diabetes, it is vitally important that you see your doctor. Left untreated, Diabetes can kill.