Diabetes Symptoms – How These Symptoms Cause Diabetes
Diabetes occurs when the pancreas, a gland behind the stomach, does not produce enough hormone insulin. It is important to know what are the diabetes symptoms that can help identify the disease. Insulin is needed to move sugar from the blood into cells. Once inside the cells, glucose is converted into energy for immediate use or stored for the future. The energy that all our bodily functions and rids the body of waste products. This process is called metabolism.
1. During and after a meal, the body digests food in its “basic building blocks.” Thus, the body breaks down carbohydrates (starch) into sugar. Glucose is the main form of sugar that the body needs for energy.
2. After the meal, glucose is absorbed into the blood.
3. The increased glucose in the blood indicates the pancreas to produce insulin, leaving the bloodstream. About 10 minutes after a meal, insulin is at its highest level.
4. Insulin helps the glucose to enter body cells. Glucose is either used immediately for energy or stored in the liver and muscles for future use.
5. About two to four hours after eating a meal, the body returns to low levels of glucose in stored blood and begins to use glucose for energy.
There are two types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes is the most serious in regard to glucose. People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin daily because their bodies produce little or no insulin. The symptoms of type 1 diabetes may come on suddenly. This form of the disease is common in children and formerly called insulin-dependent diabetes or juvenile diabetes, although it can occur at any age.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of the disease, which affects 90 to 95 percent of people with diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, the body is resistant to insulin action, which means you can not use insulin properly, so you can not move sugar into cells. Although the body produces some insulin, not enough to overcome this resistance. Excess weight increases insulin resistance. Therefore, as more overweight children and adults, many more are developing type 2 diabetes.
People with type 2 diabetes can often control the problem with a healthy lifestyle that includes exercise and diet leading to a return to a normal body weight. Many may require medication, however. These drugs can improve insulin secretion by the pancreas and insulin resistance. Some people also need to take insulin. In type 2 diabetes, the ability of the pancreas to produce insulin worsens slowly over time. This is why changes in lifestyle may be enough, shortly after diabetes develops, but eventually the medications and even insulin may be needed to keep blood sugar under control.
Here is the list of diabetes symptoms can be a basis for determining whether you have diabetes.
The symptoms of type 1 diabetes may include:
* Increased thirst
* Increased urination
* Constant hunger
* Weight loss
* Blurred vision
* Fatigue or tiredness
The symptoms of type 2 diabetes may include:
* Frequent yeast infections
* Very slow healing of wounds or sores
* Nausea
* Fatigue or tiredness
* Increased urination
* Increased thirst
* Weight loss
* Blurred vision
Diabetes symptoms plays an important role in detecting the severity of this condition. It is very important to consult your doctor for more advice that really helps.