What Are The First Signs Of Diabetes?

One of the medical conditions that require long-term medication is diabetes. It has various symptoms and each type [type 1 and type 2] can be identified using the first signs of diabetes.

Frequent urination is one of the common signs of diabetes. It is a warning sign that can also be observed in other medical conditions. Frequent urination is caused by the increase in blood glucose. High glucose level causes the kidneys to fail in filtering it due to insufficient water content. Water from the blood is drawn by the kidneys to supply enough water in order for them to function properly.

When the bladder is full, a person needs to release it by urinating. In the case of diabetics, the bladder is always full, thus the need for frequent urination. However, the water content of the blood decreases in the process, and this signals the brain to ask for more water. Hence, diabetics are frequently thirsty and urinating, and this cycle goes on during the course of the condition.

People with diabetes always crave for water or any fluids. And as mentioned before, frequent urination signals the brain to ask for more fluid intake, and diabetics carry these symptoms at the onset of their condition.

Another sign of diabetes is weight loss. For type 1 diabetes, weight loss is more frequent and prominent among patients compared to the type 2 diabetes. Since diabetics cannot utilize the energy from blood glucose, they always feel hungry and eat more often that usual.

But a diabetic, no matter how much he/she eats, cannot get sufficient energy from food. His/Her body requires more, so energy reserves in his/her body fats and tissues are utilized as well.

When this happens, the body loses fats and tissues, thus the weight loss. Don’t be happy when someone loses too much weight at a very fast pace especially without any exercise or diet program. He/She may be suffering from diabetes and may need immediate treatment.

Even the body cells of a diabetic do not have sufficient energy. Food is not enough to replenish the lost energy and this causes weakening and fatigue.

When there is excessive glucose in the blood, the nerves are also damaged. This causes the tingling sensations or numbness in the extremities. Nerve damage takes a longer time to set in type 2 diabetes which is why it takes years after most of the signs are evident. Diagnosis may be too late for most cases since the disease has already set in and the nerves are already damaged prior to it.

Other diabetes signs are bruises and cuts that don’t heal quickly, blurred vision and dry or itchy skin. Source: Simplediabetesguide dot com