Symptoms of Diabetes: What to Look For, Why They Happen

Diabetes is a metabolic disease that results in an increase in levels of blood glucose (blood sugar). Diabetes that is regulated and maintained in conjunction with a defined medical plan results in better health and a good overall quality of life. Part of the key to achieving good health and a good quality of life are to diagnose the disease when symptoms appear, preventing compounding related health problems.

Blood sugar is needed as fuel for the body. Normally, the body produces insulin to help blood sugar (glucose) enter cells and provide this fuel. People who have diabetes lack usable insulin, resulting in too much blood sugar. In normally functioning bodies, the pancreas produces insulin, a blood hormone.

When a person has diabetes, however, the body either does not produce insulin or cannot use the insulin it produces. The resulting buildup of blood sugar causes poor body and organ function, which in turn presents itself in one or more ways. Thus, the symptoms of diabetes present.

The presentation of diabetes may result in one or all of the following symptoms. Many of these symptoms go unchecked because they are only minimal annoyances, however, the presence of any of the following symptoms of diabetes warrants a visit to the doctor to discuss the possibility of diabetes.

Increased and Frequent Urination
Increased frequency of urination is one of the most commonly recognized symptoms of diabetes. Frequent urination is the body's way of reacting to excessive amounts of sugar in the blood. The body produces more urine in an attempt to flush the excessive amounts of sugar from the body.

Excessive Thirst
Being very thirsty despite fluid intake is a symptom of diabetes that results directly from the body's attempt to flush excess blood sugars through urination. In its attempt to increase urination, the body loses more fluid than normal and creates a fluid deficit. The only way to replace lost body fluids is to drink more to rehydrate the body.

Unusual or Unexplained Weight Loss
Most people welcome the loss of a few extra pounds, but when weight loss results from no change in diet or activity, the cause should be investigated with the help of a doctor. In the case of diabetes, weight loss occurs when the cells of the body turn to fat and protein stores to fulfill their sugar needs. As both fat and muscle tissue are metabolized, the body loses mass.

Vision Changes
Nerve damage caused by diabetes can in turn cause damage to the eyes and their supporting blood vessels. Decreased circulation, increases in eye pressure, poorly functioning, leaking blood vessels and resulting scar tissue increase the occurrence of several eye diseases, such as cataracts, glaucoma, and retinopathy. High blood pressure, a common side effect of diabetes, is another cause of vision difficulties in diabetics. Onset of eye problems caused by diabetes may present as blurred vision, reduced vision, dark spots in the field of vision, light flashes, or rings of light.

Numbness in the Extremities
Tingling and/or numbness in the hands and feet may indicate diabetes. Numbness in diabetics is caused by nerve damage resulting from a variety of diabetes complications. Among these factors are decreased circulation, nerve compression, and high levels of blood glucose.

Frequently Tired
Diabetes results in fatigue because the body is unable to access food energy. Without insulin, sugars cannot enter body cells, thus the body is starved of its fuel. Diabetes also results in weakness, tiredness, and fatigue because the liver is attacking fat and protein stores (muscle) to fill energy requirements. Not only is muscle tissue starved of the sugar energy it needs, but it is being broken down and lost as the body tries to use it as compensation for what it views as a lack of sugar. Lack of muscle equals lack of strength; feeling weak is its manifestation.

Dry Skin
Dry skin is a side effect commonly associated with diabetes. Fluids lost from increased urination are to blame, as well as inadequate function of body processes and poor circulation. Dry skin is often one of the first symptoms of diabetes to present (although also frequently ignored).

Difficulty Healing
Difficulty healing is a symptom of diabetes that may be easier for many people to spot. When cuts or sores take a long time to heal, diabetes may be the cause. Body healing relies on blood circulation and the delivery of blood products, something that is frequently lacking in people with diabetes. Prolonged healing times may also be the result of decreased nerve sensation. A person with diabetes may not realize a wound exists and may not properly treat the area.

Frequent Infections
Wounds and abrasions that are left untreated become breeding grounds for infections. High levels of sugar in the blood also make it difficult for the body to fight infections on its own, making normally benign infections more severe and more noticeable. Improper blood circulation allows bacteria, yeast, and fungi to proliferate, increasing frequency and severity of infections in those with diabetes.

Irritable Mood
Lack of energy, irregular levels of blood sugar, and nerve damage or compression are all products of diabetes that can vastly effect mood and result in irritability. Persistent or recurring irritability should be considered a potential symptom of diabetes.

The above mentioned symptoms are the most widely recognized symptoms of diabetes, however, every individual reacts differently to a given disease. It is important to note that diabetes may result in one of these symptoms being present, just a few, or no noticeable symptoms at all. The presence of one or more of these symptoms, especially without reasonable explanation, should be discussed with a doctor.

Who Is At Risk and When To Get Tested

There is no definite way to determine who will develop diabetes. Although there are factors which indicate an increase in the likelihood of developing diabetes, triggers remain elusive. Genetics are an indicator, and the presence of a family member (parent, sibling, child) with diabetes increases the risk for diabetes. However, genetics are not directly correlated and it appears that the factor is mixed with environmental influences. Most people who develop type 1 diabetes have no close relative with the disease.

Genetics seem to be indicated more in the development of type 2 diabetes. Ethnic groups, such as persons of African, Native American, and Asian descent, are at increased risk for diabetes. Other risk factors include obesity, physical inactivity, age, and the presence of pre-diabetes (higher than normal blood glucose levels).

Any person older than forty-five should consider diabetes testing. This is strongly recommended for those older than forty-five and overweight (according to Body Mass Index, or BMI). People younger than forty-five, overweight, with additional risk factors should discuss diabetes testing with their doctor. Having had gestational diabetes during pregnancy puts women at greater risk for diabetes. Anyone experiencing any of the aforementioned symptoms of diabetes without known cause should consult a doctor for possible diabetes testing.

Suspected or confirmed diagnosis of diabetes is frightening for many people. However, with advancements in the understanding and treatment of diabetes, the disease can be successfully controlled, delaying or preventing corollary diseases and vastly improving the quality and longevity of life with diabetes. With diabetes, education and a firm understanding of the disease are key to living long and living well. Diagnosing diabetes in its early stages by recognizing the warning signs can make a significant difference in the outcome of living with diabetes.

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