Diabetes Types and Symptoms
Diabetes is classified as a form of metabolism disorder. ‘Metabolism’ refers to a combination of internal processes employed by our bodies to extract energy from digested food or fat stored in our body. The basic element of most of our food is glucose. So the end product of our metabolism is glucose (a form of sugar) and the level of blood sugar is often used as an indicator of our metabolic rate. Body cells use the glucose in our bloodstream for energy and growth with the help of insulin. Without the presence of insulin, it is not possible for the cells to use the energy embedded inside glucose.
A diabetic person is defined as somebody who exhibits diabetes symptoms (see below) as his or her quantity of glucose in the blood stream spikes up too high. This is often the result of the body either producing no insulin, not enough of it, or having cells that do not respond appropriately to the insulin. When this condition persists, a build up of glucose levels in the blood will develop. Ultimately, the excessive blood sugar would be passed out of our system in urine. Effectively what happens is that the body is not able to make use of the glucose that actually exists in abundance.
Different Types of Diabetes
The medical field breaks down diabetes into three groups:
Diabetes Type 1 – a condition marked by no production of insulin at all.
Diabetes Type 2 – a condition described as not sufficient insulin, or the insulin is not working as expected.
Gestational Diabetes – a diabetes variation that sets in during pregnancy.
Both Diabetes Type 1 & 2 are characterized by their chronic nature – in other words, a medical condition that is both persistent and perpetual. Gestational Diabetes tends to go away after the delivery of the child.
Diabetes Symptoms
People often pay little attention to their conditions because the symptoms of diabetes seem to cause no harm. The reality is that these diabetes symptoms could lead to complications. Medical experts have suggested that early detection and treatment of diabetes can greatly reduce the odds of developing complications related to diabetes.
Symptoms of Diabetes Type 1:
- extreme hunger;
- unusual thirst;
- frequent urination;
- sudden weight loss; and
- extreme tiredness and irritability.
Symptoms of Diabetes Type 2:
- any symptom manifested in Diabetes Type 1;
- blurred vision;
- susceptibility to infections;
- cuts or bruise that take long time to heal,
- recurring bladder, skin or gum diseases;
- tingling or numbness in the feet and/or hands.
Some patients with Diabetes Type 2 do not exhibit any symptoms at all. But if your situation fits any of the descriptions above, it is advisable that you seek medical help from your doctor. Alternatively, there are a number of websites that offer diabetes risk tests, to measure the level of risk you are exposed to.