Diabetes does not discriminate. It can happen to anyone, anywhere. Check the following list if you think that you may have diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association, 7 million people have diabetes and do not know it because their symptoms are so harmless. They blame sickness, allergies and other problems when they may have the disease. Recent studies state that early detection of diabetes can decrease the complications that arise with diabetes. So, what is the sign of diabetes?
My niece was diagnosed at the age of three. My two sisters and I were scheduled to take a trip to Las Vegas when my sister began noticing that my niece had some strange symptoms. They made an appointment in Kansas City where my younger sister was a nurse. The doctors tested my niece’s blood sugar and it was over 800. We were lucky. Many parents discover that their child is diabetic when they are in a diabetic coma.
Type 1 Diabetes (Insulin-dependent diabetes; Juvenile onset diabetes) Type 1 diabetes can occur at any age; however, it is most often diagnosed in children, adolescents, or young adults. The exact cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown. An infection or some other trigger causes the body to mistakenly attack the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. This kind of disorder can be passed down through families.)
Symptoms:
- Frequent urination
- Unusual thirst
- Extreme hunger
- Unusual weight loss
- Blurry eyesight
- Extreme fatigue and irritability
Type 2 Diabetes* (Noninsulin-dependent diabetes; Adult-onset diabetes) With type 2 diabetes, your fat, liver, and muscle cells do not respond correctly to insulin. This is called insulin resistance. As a result, blood sugar does not get into these cells to be stored for energy. When sugar cannot enter cells, high levels of sugar build up in the blood, developing hyperglycemia. Family history and genes play a large role in type 2 diabetes. Low activity level, poor diet, and excess body weight around the waist increase your risk.
Symptoms:
- Any of the type 1 symptoms
- Frequent infections
- Blurred vision
- Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal
- Tingling/numbness in the hands/feet
- Recurring skin, gum, or bladder infections
*Often people with type 2 diabetes have no symptoms.
If you have these symptoms or a loved one has these symptoms, you should seek professional medical help immediately.
