Because many diabetes symptoms do not seem serious at first, it’s not uncommon for the disease to go undiagnosed for far too long. Treatment for the condition works best when it is applied early, which is why it’s so important for people to understand when they might be at risk. The sooner a person can get to a doctor and get the help they need, the more unlikely the chance they will suffer complications from the condition. Diabetes symptoms are varied and diverse, but with a little knowledge by your side, you can make the determination and decide whether you might be at risk of having the condition.
It’s important to understand that there are two types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2. The diabetes symptoms may differ dramatically depending on which type you have. Some of the signs of Type 1 diabetes are a need to urinate frequently accompanied by a lingering thirst. Extreme hunger is another common sign of the condition, as well as unusual or unexplained weight loss. Another typical sign of Type 1 diabetes is fatigue and general irritability. Any of those signs, experienced once or twice, is probably unrelated. When these same symptoms begin to show up on a chronic basis, it’s time to see a doctor and to express your concerns.
Type 2 diabetes is a different story. It should be noted that many people with Type 2 experience no diabetes symptoms at all. This is why the condition often goes undiagnosed unless the patient happens to have blood work done unrelated to those suspicions. When there are symptoms, they can often be the same ones that show up for Type 1, or they can be very different. Some of the different ones include getting infections on a frequent basis, blurry vision, having cuts or bruises that take an inordinately long time to heal, or having unexplained tingling or numbness in the extremities.
If you’re experiencing diabetes symptoms and are concerned that you could be at risk for the condition, you need to make finding a doctor your first priority. Doctors use various blood tests to confirm or rule out the presence of diabetes. One common test is called the fasting blood test. The doctor will ask you not to eat anything for 8 to 10 hours before coming in for blood work. To make this easier on the patient, these appointments are generally scheduled for the morning. From this blood work, the doctor will assess your glucose levels. Higher than 125 mg/dl signifies the presence of Type 2 diabetes.
Because diabetes is all about glucose production and use in the body, it is one of the few medical conditions that can be drastically improved and partially controlled by diet. If you have been seen for diabetes symptoms and have been diagnosed as diabetic or pre-diabetic, it is essential to find a diet that works to control carbohydrate consumption. There are several types of diabetic diet plans out there, all of which control carbohydrate intake in different ways. It’s important to find one that works for you and stick to that plan, as it could mean the difference between life and death.