Most people completely ignore diabetes signs and symptoms. This can be a deadly decision. It is estimated that nearly 27% of the population has this disease (either diagnosed, undiagnosed or pre-diabetes). Ignoring the easy to look for symptoms does not make it go away. In fact, it makes you more and more likely to lose your life to it. And as you will see at the end of this article, it can very quickly kill you.
I myself ignored all the classic signs and was within two weeks of dying when a chiropractor actually recognized it as diabetes and sent me to a doctor right away for treatment. So what are the diabetes signs and symptoms you can look for yourself or your child previous to seeking a medical opinion?
Thirst and Frequent Urination
Perhaps the easiest way to tell if you have out-of-control diabetes is to watch for an excessive thirst and subsequently frequent urination. Before I was diagnosed I had such a thirst that even after drinking a gallon of water would not go away. It would be followed by having to visit the restroom 20 to 40 times a day. Talk about embarrassing.
Tired All the Time
Another obvious symptom is constant tiredness or fatigue. People often mistake out-of-control diabetes with Fibromyalgia, Mononucleosis, the Flu and other diseases because of the tiredness and weakness it creates. You may also feel nauseous like you have the flu. A high blood sugar level will make you feel bad in general (like when you told your parents, "I don't feel so good todayl").
Hungry All the Time
Your cells need constant energy in the form of glucose. The problem with diabetes is that the sugar is not getting into the cells and instead stays in the bloodstream. Eventually the sugar is eliminated through the urine - but not before taking a very damaging route.
Because your body is not getting the energy it needs, it tries to take in more and more food to compensate. It is a destructive circle because the sugar crystals in your bloodstream are like little razors inside the vessels. Destroying your eyes, kidneys, feet, nerves and just about everything else becomes their task. And this is where most long term diabetic complications come from.
Rapid Weight Loss
Weight loss is the result of your body dumping most of its internal glucose (all food turns to glucose in the body or is eliminated). I lost over 30 pounds in a few months despite hitting the Las Vegas buffets a little too often. Doesn't sound like such a bad symptom but you are doing incredible damage to your body to lose this weight. If you are in this stage, you are also likely in a condition called 'Ketoacidosis' and are weeks from dying.
Headaches
A headache can be a common symptom -- but if it's mixed with some of the previous symptoms, find a doctor right away. It will eventually kill you. What is happening is because sugar is not getting to your brain cells. Oxygen is also not getting to them and creates swelling of the brain.
Hair Loss
One of the most unfortunate symptoms of diabetes is unexpected hair loss. Right before I was diagnosed, I was almost pulling clumps of hair out. It quickly stopped and reversed once I was started on insulin.
Conclusion
They should teach diabetes education to every child as a required class so that when they begin to see the classic diabetes signs and symptoms in their bodies, they know to seek medical advice before it is too late.
My nephew of 16 years old actually died from undiagnosed diabetes. He had the classic diabetes signs and symptoms. After being rushed to the hospital one night they found he had a blood sugar level (how much sugar is in the bloodstream) 17 times the normal amount.
Death quickly resulted from his brain swelling. His body could not right itself even after medication. Do not let this happen to your kids or yourself. Remember, deaths from diabetes complications are steadily rising just as fast as the number of newly diagnosed cases. No matter your age, watch for these classic diabetes signs and symptoms and seek medical advice immediately.
I myself ignored all the classic signs and was within two weeks of dying when a chiropractor actually recognized it as diabetes and sent me to a doctor right away for treatment. So what are the diabetes signs and symptoms you can look for yourself or your child previous to seeking a medical opinion?
Thirst and Frequent Urination
Perhaps the easiest way to tell if you have out-of-control diabetes is to watch for an excessive thirst and subsequently frequent urination. Before I was diagnosed I had such a thirst that even after drinking a gallon of water would not go away. It would be followed by having to visit the restroom 20 to 40 times a day. Talk about embarrassing.
Tired All the Time
Another obvious symptom is constant tiredness or fatigue. People often mistake out-of-control diabetes with Fibromyalgia, Mononucleosis, the Flu and other diseases because of the tiredness and weakness it creates. You may also feel nauseous like you have the flu. A high blood sugar level will make you feel bad in general (like when you told your parents, "I don't feel so good todayl").
Hungry All the Time
Your cells need constant energy in the form of glucose. The problem with diabetes is that the sugar is not getting into the cells and instead stays in the bloodstream. Eventually the sugar is eliminated through the urine - but not before taking a very damaging route.
Because your body is not getting the energy it needs, it tries to take in more and more food to compensate. It is a destructive circle because the sugar crystals in your bloodstream are like little razors inside the vessels. Destroying your eyes, kidneys, feet, nerves and just about everything else becomes their task. And this is where most long term diabetic complications come from.
Rapid Weight Loss
Weight loss is the result of your body dumping most of its internal glucose (all food turns to glucose in the body or is eliminated). I lost over 30 pounds in a few months despite hitting the Las Vegas buffets a little too often. Doesn't sound like such a bad symptom but you are doing incredible damage to your body to lose this weight. If you are in this stage, you are also likely in a condition called 'Ketoacidosis' and are weeks from dying.
Headaches
A headache can be a common symptom -- but if it's mixed with some of the previous symptoms, find a doctor right away. It will eventually kill you. What is happening is because sugar is not getting to your brain cells. Oxygen is also not getting to them and creates swelling of the brain.
Hair Loss
One of the most unfortunate symptoms of diabetes is unexpected hair loss. Right before I was diagnosed, I was almost pulling clumps of hair out. It quickly stopped and reversed once I was started on insulin.
Conclusion
They should teach diabetes education to every child as a required class so that when they begin to see the classic diabetes signs and symptoms in their bodies, they know to seek medical advice before it is too late.
My nephew of 16 years old actually died from undiagnosed diabetes. He had the classic diabetes signs and symptoms. After being rushed to the hospital one night they found he had a blood sugar level (how much sugar is in the bloodstream) 17 times the normal amount.
Death quickly resulted from his brain swelling. His body could not right itself even after medication. Do not let this happen to your kids or yourself. Remember, deaths from diabetes complications are steadily rising just as fast as the number of newly diagnosed cases. No matter your age, watch for these classic diabetes signs and symptoms and seek medical advice immediately.
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