10 Signs You May Have Diabetes
Diabetes has become increasingly common in our modern times. Our diet has changed dramatically over the last one hundred years, and diet can be directly correlated with Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes is a disease that affects how a person uses and stores insulin.
Type 1 Diabetes usually begins at birth and cannot be controlled through diet alone. People with this type of the disease have a completely defective pancreas; it does not produce any insulin at all. These people rely on insulin injections or the use of an insulin pump for their insulin needs.
Type 2 Diabetes usually begins later in life and used to be called Adult Onset Diabetes, but recently had a name change since so many younger people have begun to acquire the disease. People who have Type 2 Diabetes do not produce adequate insulin, or their bodies do not know how to properly utilize the insulin it creates. If you notice any of the signs below you might want to see a medical professional to see whether or not you have diabetes.
1. Increased Thirst and Urination
People with diabetes often notice that they are very thirsty and need to urinate a lot. This is because there is an excess of sugar in your body that your kidneys have to filter. Your kidneys will pull fluid from your other tissues to help flush out the excess sugar. This will make you more thirsty, to help your kidneys with this process. Drinking all this extra water will make you need to visit the bathroom much more often than the average person.
2. Blurred Vision
People who have uncontrolled diabetes will often have high blood sugars. This can cause the lens of a person’s eye to swell, which can cause blurry vision. Usually the episodes of blurry vision only last as long as the person’s blood sugars remain high. Once their blood sugar levels are controlled the blurriness fades.
3. Headaches
Having a headache can be a sign that you are having issues with your blood sugar. People with diabetes will get headaches when their blood sugars are either too high or too low. Having headaches can be a good indicator that you should get your blood sugar levels checked.
4. Unexplained Tiredness
If you notice that you feel tired a lot, it could be a sign that you are having issues with keeping your blood sugar stabilized. People will often notice they feel tired as their blood sugar levels crash, and then they crave sweet things or coffee to help bring their blood sugar levels back up. It is better to reach for an apple or other healthy snack when you notice this happening since processed sugars and caffeine can make the problem worse.
5. Unstable Moods
Our moods are highly dependent on our blood sugar levels. When we experience a dip in our blood sugars we can become very upset or angry. When people frequently experience unstable moods this can lead to depression and anxiety; both are common in people with diabetes. If you notice that you have been having a lot of mood changes you might want to be checked for diabetes.
6. Weight Loss
As a result of either diminished response to insulin by the body cells or a lack of insulin, a person becomes unable to use the sugar in his or her blood. And because the body needs energy, it starts to break down fat and muscle. This is what makes people suffering from diabetes to experience weight loss. In case the breakdown of fat goes on without the person getting treated, it may result in a severe condition known as ketoacidosis. This condition occurs when chemicals known as ketones are discharged into the bloodstream when fat is broken down. The ketones increase the acidity of the blood.
7. Heightened Feelings of Hunger
Diabetes produces negative changes in all the body’s metabolic processes. Because sugar is the primary source of the energy that our bodies require in order to perform our daily activities in a healthy way, it is a serious problem if our body cells are unable to use sugar. The body reacts to this energy shortfall by making you feel extremely hungry. Regular bouts of hunger and general body weakness are huge danger signs of diabetes.
8. Tingling or Burning Sensations
Diabetic neuropathy is a severe disorder that is manifested as nerve damage precipitated by high blood sugar levels. The reason it is such a serious disorder is because the damage to the nerves is usually irreversible. Sometimes the nerves are so badly damaged that the affected limbs must be amputated. During the initial stages, the neuropathy may be manifested in the form of a tingling or burning sensation in the feet, arms and fingers among other body parts. This is a very significant warning sign and should not be ignored at all costs.
9. Reduced Healing Rates
Apart from causing a notable weakening of the body’s immunity system, diabetes also leads to a sharp reduction in the healing abilities of the body. Research studies have not managed to explain properly the reasons behind these changes .In some way, high blood sugar levels leads to diminished healing rates. People suffering from diabetes can note that they have an extremely reduced rate of healing of infections, wounds and so on. This can be a powerful warning sign, especially when combined with other symptoms.
10. Constant Urination
Diabetes makes the blood sugar levels to climb beyond normal levels. This forces the kidneys of the patient to work harder than usual in order to eliminate the excess sugar effectively. This extra work leads to the production of excess urine, making the individual to get constant urges to urinate. Apart from being distracting, the condition can cause kidney damage and ultimately kidney failure if it is not treated. Constant urination may therefore be a very important signal of diabetes and must be reported to a doctor in case it goes on for an extended period.
Final Thoughts
Type 2 Diabetes has become an increasingly prevalent disease recently. This can be attributed to the dramatic increase in our consumption of processed foods within the last fifty years. If you are looking to avoid the disease make sure that your diet consists mostly of whole plant foods, small amounts of meat and dairy, and does not contain processed and packaged foods or refined sugars.
If you have already been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes there is hope that you could rid yourself of this diagnosis by changing your diet and adding in some exercise to help lose some excess weight.
If you have noticed that you have a lot of the signs listed above see a medical professional for some testing to see if you are having issues with blood sugar control. There is hope that you could free yourself of the signs listed above with diet and lifestyle changes.
