Diabetes Signs
Diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus, is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high sugar level in blood. It is a chronic disease which may be caused due to lack of insulin produced in the body, or there are cells that do not respond to the insulin produced in the body.
Diabetes has different types of symptoms; the most typical symptoms are:
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Frequent urination (polyuria)
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Increased hunger (polyphagia)
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Increased thirst (polydipsia)
Firstly, it is important to understand the functions of our body and how food is processed in the body. Food is firstly broken down; it serves as fuel for our body. Several functions are produced while the digestion of food takes place. A sugar called glucose is produced in the blood stream. Insulin moves the glucose from the blood stream to the muscles, liver cells and fats of the body. Insulin is produced by an organ called pancreas.
People having diabetes have high sugar in blood because their pancreas does not make enough insulin and thus, it does not provide enough fuel to muscles, fats and liver cells.
There are three main types of diabetes:
Type 1 Diabetes: In this type, the body of the patient does not produce enough insulin and thus requires the person to inject it in to the body. It is sometimes even diagnosed in childhood and includes patients who are above 20 years of age. Daily injections of insulin are needed by the diabetes patients. The causes of this disease are yet not sure. It may be caused by viruses, auto immune viruses or from genetics. Type 1 is also known as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or DDM.
Type 2 Diabetes: In this type, the cells fail to use insulin properly, and the body is more likely to become insulin resistant. It is basically caused in adult age and is more common than type 1. Many people with type 2 do not even know that they are suffering from this disease. It is a very serious condition and is caused by obesity and lack of exercise. Type 2 is also known as non insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or NIDDM.
Gestational diabetes: It is mostly caused in pregnant women, who never had diabetes before; after pregnancy, it either increases or disappears completely. It should be handled carefully throughout the pregnancy. 20%-50% women who have been through the phase of delivery develop diabetes later in life.
Symptoms develop rapidly in type 1 diabetes, but usually develop slightly and slowly in type 2. When glucose is absorbed in blood for a prolonged time, it changes the shape of the lenses of the eyes. Blurred vision is a common complaint in diabetes. In type 1, there is a rapid change of vision as compared to type 2.
Numbers of skin rashes can also be observed. It is also known as diabetic dermadromes. Patients of diabetes also suffer from weight loss and fatigue.
Symptoms of type 1 diabetes are different from type 2. Most common symptoms in type 1 are increase in thirst and urination. Patients also suffer from fatigue, vomiting, nausea and, in spite of increased appetite, weight loss.
In type 2, most common symptoms are increase in appetite, thirst, urination, blurred vision and fatigue.
Nowadays, medication is available for controlling diabetes. Just proper checkup is needed to cure it.
To diagnose diabetes, following tests are taken:
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Fasting blood glucose level
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Hemoglobin A1C
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Random blood glucose level
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Oral glucose tolerance test
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