Signs And Symptoms Of Diabetes

Diabetes, as most people know, is a condition resulting from a failure of the body to produce enough insulin or to react to the hormone properly. This dysfunction results in the overabundance and buildup of glucose in the blood. There exist several subsets of diabetes, which altogether affect nearly three percent of the American population. The majority of American diabetes patients suffer from type II diabetes, which often develops in adults over a period of years. The development of the disorder is accompanied by any of a number of common signs.

The most common of these signs of diabetes include an increase in thirst or feeling of dehydration, which often results in a much higher intake of water. A related symptom is that of more frequent urination. In addition, problems with insulin and glucose result in the body’s desperation for an alternative source of fuel. This can eventually result in muscle breakdown and subsequent weight loss, but first presents as increased appetite and unusual tiredness or fatigue.

Another warning sign of the onset of diabetes is a sudden or even gradual change in eyesight or the development of problems with vision. The aforementioned buildup of glucose in the blood can, over a long period of time, alter the shape of the eye’s lens and cause vision to blur. Prolonged high blood sugar levels can also ultimately damage the nervous system of a diabetic patient. The results of this damage, known as neuropathy, may be observed as a new sort of tingling or numbing effect in the extremities.

In addition, diabetes can be indicated by a set of signs that result from the severe metabolic instability of diabetic ketoacidosis. In this state, the breath of a diabetic patient may smell strangely of acetone. In addition, the patient may exhibit quick, heavy breathing, vomiting, nausea, incoherency, hostility, or unconsciousness.
If you find that you recognize any combination of these signs of diabetes in yourself or a family member, it is best to seek immediate medical attention. A doctor will make a diagnosis if necessary and then the patient may proceed with treatment and regulation.