Diabetes is a health condition in which the body cannot produce enough insulin or it is not able to process it. Being diagnosed with diabetes means that the body is unable to process the sugar properly, and the blood glucose levels are higher than normal.
High blood sugar levels are the main cause of different health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, kidney damage, blindness, ulcers, infections, gangrene and even premature death.
There are three main types of diabetes
1. Type 1 Diabetes -- It is an autoimmune disease, and health experts used to call it juvenile diabetes. It occurs when the immune system turns against the beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin.
2. Type 2 Diabetes -- It is the most common type. In this case, the body does not produce insulin to regulate the blood sugar or the cells have become resistant to insulin, meaning they are unable to use it properly.
3. Gestational Diabetes -- This disease affects 5-10 percent of the women during or after their pregnancy
People are often not aware they have diabetes, because early diabetes symptoms sometimes seem harmless. By recognizing the early symptoms you can control the disease on time and prevent any further damage.
Here are some of the most common signs of diabetes:
-- Frequent urination. The kidneys work harder to get rid of the extra glucose in the blood, as the glucose is eliminated through the urine.
-- Increased thirst. Frequent urination leads to dehydration, so you need to drink more water.
-- Increased hunger. It is a result of the improper use of insulin, and the body is depleted of energy.
-- General fatigue. -- The body is not able to respond to insulin properly, and the cells cannot absorb the blood glucose. This is why fatigue is one of the most common symptoms.
-- Dark skin patches. These are mostly located under the arms.
-- Blurry vision. If the blood glucose levels remain high for longer, the lens of the eye changes its shape, which affects the vision.
-- Itchy, dry skin. The skin becomes itchy because of the poor circulation. The sweat glands become dysfunctional, which results in irritated skin.
-- Numbness. Tingling sensation in the hands, fingers, legs, and feet is often associated with diabetes. It occurs as a result of high blood glucose levels. This restricts the blood flow to the extremities, which eventually damages the nerve fibers.
-- Diabetics suffer from frequent infections, and sometimes the infection recurs.
-- The wounds heal slowly. Diabetes sometimes affects the blood circulation, and the wounds heal slowly.
