Warning Signs that You Have Diabetes

Diabetes is a health complication involving blood glucose. Your pancreas produces insulin hormone that is responsible for regulating blood sugar. Your body can have a problem using insulin or can fail to make enough. In this case, you are said to be diabetic. Although diabetic signs can begin to show early, it can take a while to recognize them.

If you are concerned about or suspect you or your loved one has diabetes, a family practice provider can help you manage the diabetes. Kalpana Desai, MD of Integrated Family Medical Center is a family practice physician in Lady Lake and can help you understand the warning signs of diabetes. The symptoms may vary depending on the type of diabetes you have.

Types of Diabetes

Type 1

This is an autoimmune condition mostly diagnosed in childhood and is defined by the body not producing insulin. This can be caused by the immune system attacking the beta cells in the pancreas. These are the insulin-producing cells. The condition can be managed using insulin.

Type 2

This is a condition where your cells fail to use blood sugar to produce energy efficiently. This can be caused by too high blood sugar levels that cause the cells to be resistant or insensitive to insulin.

Different symptoms can be experienced in the two types of diabetes. However, both types have some similar telltale warning signs. 

Hunger and Fatigue

The food you eat is converted into glucose that your cells use in the production of energy. When  there is less insulin or the cells resist the hormone, energy is not produced, making you feel more tired than usual, and it also makes you hungrier.

Frequent Thirst and Peeing

This can be brought about by too high blood sugar that your kidney cannot bring back. This increases urine production, which takes fluids; hence, you feel the urge to pee frequently and feel thirst.

Dry Mouth and Itchy Skin

Because most of the body fluid is used to make urine, less moisture is left, leading to dehydration in your body. You may experience dryness in the mouth, and the dry skin can make you itchy.

Blurred Vision

Due to dwindling levels of fluids in your body, your eye lenses can swell up, change in shape, and fail to focus. As a result, your sight can become imprecise.

Yeast Infections

Yeast feeds on glucose and grows in any warm, moist environment. This means that if your sugar level is high, yeast will grow in areas including between fingers and toes, under breasts, and in or around sex organs.

Slow Healing Sores

If your blood sugar level remains high for a while, it can affect your blood flow. This can cause nerve damage, making it difficult for your body to heal abrasions.

Pain and Numbness in Your Feet

This occurs as a result of nerve damage caused by high blood sugar levels.

If you also experience unexpected weight loss, nausea, and vomiting, it can signify diabetes. If your body does not produce energy from the food you eat, muscles and fats are burned for energy instead. Moreover, burning fat makes ketones, which can make you sick in the stomach.

If you experience any of the signs above, it might indicate you have diabetes. Don’t hesitate to contact Integrated Family Medical Center for guidance.