Monday, November 16, 2009

12 Warning Sign of Diabetes - Do You Have Any of Them?

Tina wasn't aware that the frequent toilet trips was the sign of diabetes. She didn't pay much attention to it.

"So how did you finally realize you have diabetes?" I asked.

"More symptoms of diabetes start to show. The on my feet was healing even after 2 weeks," She replied. "I told my grandma about it and immediate went for medical consultation."

At the young age of 18, Tina was diagnosed with diabetes. Had she detected her illness earlier, she would have avoided the complication now.

"Can you tell me the signs of diabetes, Tina?" I requested.

"Sure!" She agreed immediately.

We spend the next few hours talking about the causes and sign of diabetes. It was almost 6pm when we are done. I felt compelled to let you know more about the disease.

So, I quickly put the 12 sign of diabetes here as shared by Tina.

Here's what I gathered from her:

1) Frequent Urination. Some times the frequency can be as high as hourly. This is because the excessive glucose is to flush out of the body through urine.

Why so? Because the kidney cannot absorb all the sugar (glucose) in the blood, and so that's the only way to get rid of these sugar.

2) Excessive Thirst. Even without getting involved in physical and intense activities diabetics get thirsty easily - even in cool season. This sign of diabetes is intimately linked to frequent urination. The cause of extreme thirst is a condition call Hyperglycemias (high blood sugar).

Since the body use the urine to flush out the glucose, urine creation lead to dehydration. Consequently the loss of fluid through urine makes diabetics thirsty.

3) Dry Mouth. When dehydration becomes more serious diabetics suffer from this condition as a result of the lack of saliva to mouth..

4) Feeling Lethargic. Regardless of the length of rest diabetics still feel sluggish. This stated of low energy is a sign of diabetes due to the loss of glucose (energy). Again, this is caused by frequent urination.

5) Unexpected Weigh Loss or Weight Gain. Rightfully speaking, weight loss is good news for diabetics. However unanticipated weight loss can spell trouble, as this can mean dehydration, or muscle loss due to high glucose content.

At the other end is weight gain. And unanticipated weight gain is not welcoming news also. It means that the glucose is not converted and use by the body. Instead, because diabetics are resistance to insulin, the glucose gets converted into fats and stored in the body.

6) Blur Vision. Most diabetics (unaware of their condition) overlook this sign of diabetes and that's really dangerous since untreated eyes problem (due to diabetes) can lead to blindness. Yet many diabetics thought that they are just too tired.

7) Slow Healing Cuts and Bruises. Wounds and cuts on the feet obviously took a longer time to heal as a result of nerve damage and poor circulation.

8) Itches and Sores Around the Genital Area. These conditions are frequently mis-diagnosed as thrush. Those who suspect themselves to be diabetic and was previously diagnosed with thrush should immediately undergo medical examination.

9) Gum (Periodontal) Disease. This oral situation is the result of high sugar content in the blood stream. Those suffering from gum disease usually experience pain chewing. For serious case, it may result in teeth loss.

Gum treatment for diabetics is tougher. They need to keep their glucose level under control to effectively treat their gum problem.

10) Hair Thinning or Hair Loss. Lost hair is not replaced as fast because of the diabetic condition. The end consequence is apparent hair loss and thinning.

11) Recurring Infection and Scratch/Dry Skin. This sign of diabetes is due to the high sugar level and poor blood circulation.

12) Numbness and Tingling in Hands and Feet. Commonly known as neuropathy. By the time diabetics encounter this symptom, it usually means that the nervous system has been damaged by the high sugar content.

At this point, it's important to be aware that the sign of diabetes listed above may not be comprehensive. So if you are not well, the best and safest advice to get professional consultation as early as possible. This may help avoid any subsequent complications due to late treatment.