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| diabetes symptoms |
Diabetes mellitus refers to a group of diseases that affect how
your body uses blood sugar (glucose). Glucose is vital to your
health because it's an important source of energy for the cells
that make up your muscles and tissues. It's also your brain's
main source of fuel.
The underlying cause of diabetes varies by type. But, no matter
what type of diabetes you have, it can lead to excess sugar in
your blood. Too much sugar in your blood can lead to serious
health problems.
Chronic diabetes conditions include type 1 diabetes and type 2
diabetes. Potentially reversible diabetes conditions include
prediabetes and gestational diabetes. Prediabetes occurs when
your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high
enough to be classified as diabetes. And prediabetes is often the
precursor of diabetes unless appropriate measures are taken to
prevent progression. Gestational diabetes occurs during
pregnancy but may resolve after the baby is delivered.
Symptoms
Diabetes symptoms vary depending on how much your blood
sugar is elevated. Some people, especially those with
prediabetes or type 2 diabetes,
Increased thirst
Frequent urination
Extreme hunger
Unexplained weight loss
Presence of ketones in the urine (ketones are a byproduct of
the breakdown of muscle and fat that happens when there's
not enough available insulin)
Fatigue
Irritability
Blurred vision
Slow-healing sores
Frequent infections, such as gums or skin infections and
vaginal infections
Type 1 diabetes can develop at any age, though it often appears
during childhood or adolescence. Type 2 diabetes, the more
common type, can develop at any age, though it's more common
in people older than 40.
Treatment of diabetes
Doctors treat diabetes with a few different medications. Some of
these drugs are taken by mouth, while others are available
as injections.
Type 1 diabetes
Insulin is the main treatment for type 1 diabetes. It replaces the
hormone your body isn’t able to produce.
There are four types of insulin that are most commonly used.
They’re differentiated by how quickly they start to work, and
how long their effects last:
Rapid-acting insulin starts to work within 15 minutes and
its effects last for 3 to 4 hours.
Short-acting insulin starts to work within 30 minutes and
lasts 6 to 8 hours.
Intermediate-acting insulin starts to work within 1 to 2
hours and lasts 12 to 18 hours.
Long-acting insulin starts to work a few hours after
injection and lasts 24 hours or longer.
Type 2 diabetes
Diet and exercise can help some people manage type 2 diabetes.
If lifestyle changes aren’t enough to lower your blood sugar,
you’ll need to take medication.
When to see a doctor
If you suspect you or your child may have diabetes. If you
notice any possible diabetes symptoms, contact your doctor.
The earlier the condition is diagnosed, the sooner treatment
can begin.
If you've already been diagnosed with diabetes. After you
receive your diagnosis, you'll need close medical follow-up
until your blood sugar levels stabilize.