Oct 02 2008
Sign of Diabetes
Recognizing A Sign of Diabetes
It is more common to notice the symptoms of a high blood glucose level if you have Type 1 diabetes, as the absence of insulin has a dramatic effect on your body. If you have Type 2 diabetes, you still produce some insulin, so your symptoms may be less severe – you may even attribute them to growing older. For example, you may think it’s normal to feel tired, or to get up at night to pass urine. Occasionally with Type 2, there are no symptoms at all and diabetes may not even be suspected until you have a routine medical or eye test that reveals an early sign of diabetes or long-term complications. The following are all symptoms of diabetes.
Passing Large Amounts Of Urine Frequently
When your blood glucose level reaches a certain level, your kidneys filter excess glucose out of your blood. To expel it from your body, more urine is produced, which means that you need to urinate more often. You may not notice this during the day, but you may wake up two or three times a night to pass urine.
Dry Mouth, Excessive Thirst
Because you are passing lots of urine you become dehydrated, which causes thirst and a dry mouth. Quenching your thirst with sugary drinks can aggravate the problem by raising your blood glucose even higher, so drink sugar-free drinks.
Lack Of Energy
You may feel tired all the time, find it difficult to carry out day-to-day activities, and still feel tired even if you rest or sleep more than usual. This is because some or all of the glucose in your blood cannot enter your body cells to give you energy.
Weight Loss
When your body cannot use glucose, it starts to break down its fat and muscle stores for energy instead, so you may lose weight. Weight loss is more common and rapid in Type 1 than Type 2 diabetes. In Type 2, weight loss may happen very slowly or not at all.
If you are overweight, you may be pleased to lose weight in such an effortless way. This isn’t healthy, however, and, as soon as your diabetes is under control, you should expect to regain the weight that you have lost.
Blurred Vision
When your blood glucose level is high, the lenses of your eyes absorb glucose and water.
This makes them swell, which causes blurred vision.
Fruity-Smelling Breath
This is a late symptom of Type 1 diabetes and indicates a dangerously high blood glucose level. When your body breaks down fat for energy it produces toxic by-products called ketones. If your breath smells fruity (the smell is often said to be similar to that of pear drops or nail varnish remover), this is a sign that your body is trying to expel ketones via your lungs. If you also develop any of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, and/or abdominal pain, you may need urgent hospital treatment for ketoacidosis (diabetic coma), which although rare, can be extremely dangerous.
Thrush And Cystitis
The presence of glucose in your urine provides a good environment for bacteria and germs to grow in large amounts, making infections such as cystitis and thrush more likely.
There are several other more minor symptoms of diabetes, but if you recognize one or more of these sign of diabetes, you really need to contact your doctor or health professional right away.