Diabetes is a metabolic disease that causes high blood sugar. Blood glucose is the concentration of glucose in the blood, which is the main source of energy for your body. It is insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, that helps glucose in food to enter your cells for use as a source of energy. But sometimes, your body does not produce enough insulin or does not use it properly. The glucose therefore stays in your blood and does not reach your cells. You suffer from diabetes. Here are 8 warning signs of the disease.
Diabetes affects about 3.3 million people, which represents 5% of the population. And according to the World Health Organization, the number of people with the disease has increased from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million in 2014, an increase of 290% in just 34 years.
The underlying cause of diabetes varies by type. But whatever your type of diabetes, it can result in too much sugar in the blood. However, large amounts of sugar in the blood can lead to serious health problems.
What are the different types of diabetes?
The most common types of diabetes are type 1, 2 and gestational diabetes.
Type 1 Diabetes: The body of people with this type of diabetes does not make insulin. Their immune system attacks and destroys the pancreatic cells that make insulin. Type 1 diabetes is generally diagnosed in children and young adults, although it can occur at any age. These people must inject insulin daily to ensure their survival.
Type 2 Diabetes: The body of people with type 2 diabetes produces insulin, unlike Type 1, but the body's cells do not respond as effectively as they did before. You can develop this type of diabetes at any age, even during childhood. However, it usually occurs in middle-aged and older people. This is the most common type of diabetes.
Gestational Diabetes: Gestational diabetes develops in some pregnant women and most of the time it disappears after the baby is born. However, women with this type of diabetes are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life.
Diabetes: Health risks
Over time, high blood sugar causes health problems such as:
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Neuropathy
- Retinopathy and vision loss
- Hearing loss
- Damage to the feet especially infections and wounds that do not heal
- Skin disorders (bacterial and fungal infections for example)
- Depression
- Dementia
It is essential to take steps to reduce your risk of developing these health problems by starting with a healthy and balanced diet and regular exercise. Also, early detection of diabetes can increase your chances of recovery. It is therefore important to pay attention to the first signs and symptoms of illness.
Symptoms not to be neglected
1- Frequent urination
A healthy person urinates four to seven times a day. People with diabetes will have a tendency to go to the bathroom much more often. In fact, when the blood sugar level increases, the kidneys can not filter it properly. This forces the body to produce more urine.
2- Excessive thirst
Since these people urinate more often, they also tend to get thirsty, and vice versa.
3- An increase in the feeling of hunger
If the body does not produce enough insulin or if the cells resist, the glucose can not enter and the body lacks energy. These people will therefore be more hungry than usual.
4- Dry mouth
Frequent urination to remove excess sugar from the blood can result in additional water loss through the body. This can cause dehydration and therefore dry mouth.
5- Quick weight gain
As the feeling of hunger increases, you will tend to eat more often and gain more weight.
6- Fatigue
This fatigue results from the insufficiency of the sugar level transferred from the blood into the cells of the body.
7- Vision problems
Excess sugar in the blood can damage the tiny blood vessels in the eyes, which can cause blurred vision.
8- Wounds that do not heal
High blood sugar levels can damage nerves and blood vessels, which can affect the blood circulation. As a result, even small cuts can take weeks or even months to heal.
