Five Warning Signs of Diabetes

Making frequent trips to the bathroom.

If you have to make unusually frequent trips the bathroom much more lately, and it seem like you having urinate all the time? When there is too much glucose in your blood, urination becomes more frequent. If you insulin is too low, the kidneys have difficulty filtering the glucose back to the blood stream. They can become overworked and draw extra water out of the blood to dilute the glucose resulting in a bladder full that keeps you running for the bathroom.

Are You Experiencing an Unquenchable Thirst?

If you are always thirsty and it feels like you can’t get enough water, or if you need to drink more liquids more than usual, it could be an indication of diabetes. If your kidneys is having to pull extra water out of your blood stream, and you have to run to the bathroom more often than normal, you can become dehydrated and feel the need to quench your thirst to replace the water that you have lost.
 

Do You Keep Losing Weight?

Unexplained weight loss is more noticeable with Type 1 diabetes. When the pancreas stops making insulin, the body desperately looks for an energy source because the cells aren’t getting glucose. It starts to break down muscle tissue and fat for energy. Because Type 2 happens more gradually with increasing insulin resistance, weight loss is not as noticeable.

Weakness and Fatigue
 

The glucose from the food we consume travels into the blood stream where insulin is supposed to help with conversion into the cells of our body. The cells use it to produce the energy we need to live. When there is insufficient insulin in your system, or if the cells have quit reacting to it, then the glucose remains in the bloodstream. The cells become starved for glucose, which makes you feel tired and run down.

Do You Have Tingling or Numbness in Your Hands, Legs or Feet?

This tingling and numbness sensation is called neuropathy. It typically occurs gradually over time as consistently high glucose in the blood system causes damage to the nervous system, particularly in the extremities. With Type 2 diabetes, onset is more gradual, and people are often not aware that they have it. It is possible then that the blood glucose levels may have been high for a considerable length of time before a diagnosis is made. This can result in nerve damage that can creep up without forewarning.

Other Signs and Symptoms That May Occur

Blurred vision, and frequent infections or cuts and bruises that take a long time to heal are possible signs that something may not be right. When these symptoms are associated with diabetes, they are a result of high glucose levels in the in the blood. I cannot stress the importance – if you notice any of the above signs, get with your doctor ASAP. Your doctor will be able to tell you if you have reason to be concerned with a few simple tests.

Dedicated to my son -James. 2/2/1979 – 4/15/2010