Symptoms seem harmless
Sometimes diabetes may not be diagnosed because the symptoms often seem harmless. Many think what they are feeling is normal. Type 1 and type 2 can have similar symptoms as well as some that are not the same. As symptoms usually begin gradually over a period of time it makes it hard to diagnose. Sometimes the diagnoses are not made until complications of the disease begin to appear.
Symptoms like vision changes, wounds or sores that will not heal, heart disease, and numbness in the legs and feet often alert doctors to test for diabetes.
One of the noticeable symptoms of diabetes is frequent urination. You will have to urinate more often if the glucose in the blood is too high. If the pancreas is not producing enough or ineffective insulin, the kidneys will have trouble filtering the glucose back to the blood and become overwhelmed. The kidneys will draw more water out of the blood to dilute the glucose. This keeps the bladder full and causes frequent trips to the bathroom.
Excessive thirst is another symptom that you may experience. This is caused by the pulling of water from the blood and frequent urination which makes your body feel dehydrated. You will feel the need to drink more water to replace the water you are losing due to urination.
For some weight loss may be a symptom. In type 1 diabetes this is because your body is looking for energy that it is not getting from glucose that is normally found in the cells. So it draws energy from the breakdown of muscle and fat tissues. In type 2 diabetes this gradually happens with insulin resistance and weight loss will be less noticeable.
Fatigue and weakness is cause by the glucose not being able to get into the cells that our bodies rely on for energy. The cells then become starved for energy and you will feel weak and fatigued.
Numbness and tingling in the hands and feet is caused by a consistent high level of glucose in the blood. This excessive glucose level causes damage to the nervous system. This is condition is called neuropathy.
Other sign and symptoms may include blurred vision, dry itchy skin, cuts and bruises that take a long time to heal and frequent infections. These are all signs of a high glucose level. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms you should see your doctor so you can find out if you should be concerned.
Making sure you monitor your health will prevent many problems. We understand that many of the symptoms of diabetes can be attributed to other illnesses, however, if you are unsure you shouldn't hesitate to contact your doctor.
Better safe than sorry. If you self-diagnose yourself incorrectly, but do go to the doctor, it's not a problem. If you however ignore your health issues...