Common Signs of Diabetes

Diabetes can present puzzling symptoms. In some cases, the common symptoms may not show up. Diabetes symptoms may not be constant. Similar symptoms may be signs of other diseases. However, there is a common set of signs that generally signal the disease.

Unusually frequent urination is one of the classic symptoms that suggests the possibility of diabetes. One defining attribute of the disease is excessive glucose levels in the blood. Either the body produces too little insulin to deal with it (Type 1 diabetes), or the insulin isn't used correctly (Type 2).

In both forms of diabetes, the body tries to eliminate extra glucose through urination. The kidneys filter out some extra sugar, but they cannot remove it all. Glucose is then excreted as waste from other metabolic processes.

Losing liquid through urination and other metabolic processes makes the diabetic extremely thirsty. Without treatment, diabetics may feel continual thirst. The thirst remains, no matter how much liquid is consumed. The excess liquid causes yet more frequent urination.

Constant tiredness may also be a sign of diabetes. The body's insulin is failing to help cells absorb glucose from the blood and the result is fatigue. Glucose powers most body functions, including movement and cell repair.

Symptoms of diabetes can show up in other body systems as well.

Blurry vision can result from any number of conditions, even simple age where it is often just presbyopia. Presbyopia results from reduced elasticity of the lenses as we age, leading to a lessened ability to focus. But the cause in the case of diabetes is very different.

In diabetes, high blood glucose levels decrease the fluid in all the tissues, especially in the lenses. This impedes focusing. New blood vessels form in the retina as diabetes advances and can severely impair vision, causing spots or flashing lights in the visual field. Rings can appear around lights.

In some instances, cuts (particularly on the feet) may be slower to heal when a person has Type 2 diabetes. The reasons are not yet fully understood, but it is one more indicator. At the same time, the immune system is affected, leading to a lowered ability to fight off infection.

Since so many of these symptoms can be (and are) produced by a number of other conditions, the best course of action if you suspect you have diabetes is to seek a professional diagnosis. Simple blood tests can determine with a high degree of confidence whether or not you do in fact have the disease. They're relatively painless and most are covered by ordinary health insurance.

About the Author

Julia Hanf author of the book How To Play the Diabetes Diet Game and Win Through a real life crisis Julia figured out how to live diabetes free. Visit http://www.yourdiabetescure.com and learn more about your solution for diabetes.