Diabetes, Recognizing the Signs, and Symptoms

Do you find yourself going to the bathroom more than usual? Are you unusually hungry or thirsty? Is fatigue a normal, everyday feeling? Does spontaneous, blurred vision interfere with you daily life? If this sounds like you, you may have Diabetes. Diabetes effects over sixteen million Americans, and many people are unaware they have it. Every day, 2,200 new cases of Diabetes are diagnosed in the United States. Diabetes is characterized by a high level of sugar in the blood, as a result of defective insulin secretion, or insulin resistance. Although we tend to group all people with Diabetes together, the truth is that there are two different types of Diabetes that are similar in their elevated blood sugar, but different in many other ways.


Type 1 Diabetes is usually diagnosed in children, and young adults. It is characterized by the Pancreas' inability to produce insulin. It is thought that this inability arises from an autoimmune condition. Basically the body is killing its own insulin producing cells. The symptoms of type 1 Diabetes are very obvious, frequent urination, increased thirst, and weight loss. The onset is usually abrupt, and severe. In addition, having type 1 Diabetes increases your risk for many serious complications, heart disease, blindness, nerve damage, and kidney damage. Treatment consists of intermediate or long-acting insulin (taken once or twice daily) with fast- or rapid-acting insulin injections taken at mealtimes.

Type 2 Diabetes often develops rather insidiously, showing few or no symptoms. The symptoms are similar to type 1, however they develop gradually over time. This may explain why it often goes undetected at first. The cells of the body being resistant to insulin characterize the most common form of diabetes, type 2. The Pancreas still produces insulin, however the body cannot use it efficiently. Type 2 usually develops in men or women over 40 years of age, characterized by obesity, and lack of physical activity. In particular, people who are an "apple-shape" - with lots of fat around the abdomen - are at greater risk of developing diabetes. Type 2 Diabetes runs in families, and is particularly common among people of African-Caribbean or Asian origin. Similarly, having type 2 Diabetes increases your risk for many serious complications, as type 1. Unlike type 1, type 2 Diabetes can usually be controlled with diet, exercise or medicines.

If you suspect you may have Diabetes, it is important to see your doctor, especially if you fall into any of the categories previously mentioned. Discovering you have Diabetes is frightening, don't panic, people with Diabetes can live long, healthy, happy lives. Eat right and exercise. It's a simple prescription that will keep you healthy, whether you have diabetes or not.

Information on Type 2 Diabetes: What it Tells you

Several sources of information on the type two diabetes can be found almost everywhere. If you suspect that you have the diabetes type 2 condition or are at risk of acquiring it, type 2 diabetes information can be easily and conveniently found online. However, not every bit of online data may be accurately written. Therefore, it is necessary to set the facts straight about the common misconceptions about type 2 diabetes.

Fact #1: Diabetes has no remedy.

Accurate and reliable data on type 2 diabetes should tell you that currently, no known 100% cure on diabetes has been developed in the medical field yet. Albeit a diabetic patient can try and even prevent the diabetes condition from worsening he or she cannot completely treat it. It is therefore important to be cautious with information on type 2 diabetes that will offer to provide you with a cure.

Fact #2: It is not fully understood.

Many medical researchers as well as medical organizations are constantly trying to help us understand more about type 2 diabetes by conducting researches. It is a known fact though that these studies and researches will take time if we are to fully grasp, and consequently, come up with the best possible medical solution for type 2 diabetes as, even its definite causes cannot be fully identified. Several common possible sources have been identified such as genetic heritage wherein some people are insulin resistant compared to others. This hereditary trait, combined with and unhealthy diet and lifestyle may worsen any existing diabetes condition or increase the risk of having one.

Fact #3: Too much sugar does not necessarily cause diabetes.

The act of eating too much sweets, by itself, does not cause diabetes. But since a diabetic's body is unable to process glucose, diabetics are warned and cautioned against eating too much sweets. Information about type 2 diabetes should tell you that we need insulin in our body to open up and take in glucose for energy production and that type 2 diabetics' body do not react to such function of the insulin.

Sugar is also not the only food item that diabetics should watch out against. Carbohydrate intake in general should be the first thing that should be managed. The information on type 2 diabetes from your doctor should include instructions on how to count carbohydrates so you can limit your intake. Eating too much carbohydrate rich foods can produce as much glucose as sweet foods.

Fact #4: Not all fruits are good for diabetes.

People have the misconception that going on a healthy food diet of vegetables and fruits is all that is we need to address your diabetes condition. What any reliable and accurate information on type 2 diabetes should inform you, however, is that it is not about eating as much fruits and vegetables as you can to replace carbohydrates intake. A diabetic's diet as far as fruits are concern should be about moderation and simply making sure that you eat only within your recommended daily allowance of sugars and carbohydrates, and fruits. Fruits may still contain sugar and, as a type 2 diabetic, you should try to do away with those foods that are high in the glycemic index in your information on type 2 diabetes.

Fact #5: Not all diabetics show symptoms.

Since not all people manifest signs and symptoms of being diabetic, there are some who discover their condition too late. Factors which are contributory to diabetes such as being overweight, being advanced in age and a family background on the condition should be enough warning for you to undergo regular check ups as well as enough reason for you to have a healthy change in diet and lifestyle.

Fact #6: Complications can kill you.

Diabetes, as a condition, does not kill by itself alone. What most diabetic patients usually die from are the complications brought about by being diabetic. These complications affects major organs and include - but are not limited to - heart and kidney failure.