It is essential that people know what the signs of diabetes are. Just because you don't have diabetes or are not at risk of developing the disease, this doesn't mean you don't have to know about its manifestations. The two most common types of Diabetes are Type I and Type II. Type I diabetes is also known as insulin-dependent diabetes, where the beta cells of the pancreas cannot produce insulin at all. Type II diabetes is also called non-insulin dependent diabetes because the beta cells of the Islets of Langerhans are still capable of producing insulin but not enough amounts or the body is not capable of using the insulin that is produced.
Insulin is a hormone produced by your pancreas, specifically the beta cells that can be found in the Islets of Langerhans. Insulin acts as a key to your cells, letting glucose in so that your cells can convert them to energy your body will be using to function. Without insulin, the glucose you keep on taking in can't be utilized by your cells. This is where the signs of diabetes start to manifest itself. When glucose can't enter your cells, they will remain in your systemic circulation, your blood. When you have your blood tested, it will turn out positive for glucose and this is a sign called hyperglycemia or too much glucose in the blood.
As the blood circulates through your body, it eventually passes your kidney. The function of the kidney is to filter your blood. However, when there is too much glucose in your blood, the size of the glucose is too big for your kidneys to filtrate. This damages the kidneys and ultimately glucose will be able to pass through your kidney's semi-permeable membrane. When glucose passes through the kidneys and into your urine, this sign of diabetes is called glucosuria or glucose in your urine.
The two mentioned signs are clinical manifestations, which mean that it can only be detected when you undergo a blood chemistry test and a urine test. The three classic signs of diabetes, you can detect yourself, is frequent urination or polyuria, excessive drinking or polydipsia, and excessive eating or polyphagia. You will be urinating a lot if you have diabetes because once your urine is concentrated with glucose it attracts water which constantly gives you a full bladder and the constant urge to urinate. You will be drinking a lot because you are urinating a lot and you are losing the water content of your blood; you will be dehydrated thus making you thirsty. You eat a lot when you have diabetes because your cells are demanding for glucose, the very glucose that is already highly present in your blood but can't enter the cells because of the lack or absence of insulin.
The other signs of diabetes should be considered more as complications because these only manifest later on when the condition goes untreated. These complications include peripheral neuritis, retinal neuropathy, among others. With diabetes, your blood will be more viscous than usual causing the flow to be sluggish and the delivery of nutrients and other substances become slow. This is why with diabetes, wounds are slow to heal and patients can be candidates for amputation, a very sad fate. The very reason why everybody should know the signs of diabetes is that if any of you see any one manifesting the signs, you can intervene immediately and avoid the potentially crippling complications.
Insulin is a hormone produced by your pancreas, specifically the beta cells that can be found in the Islets of Langerhans. Insulin acts as a key to your cells, letting glucose in so that your cells can convert them to energy your body will be using to function. Without insulin, the glucose you keep on taking in can't be utilized by your cells. This is where the signs of diabetes start to manifest itself. When glucose can't enter your cells, they will remain in your systemic circulation, your blood. When you have your blood tested, it will turn out positive for glucose and this is a sign called hyperglycemia or too much glucose in the blood.
As the blood circulates through your body, it eventually passes your kidney. The function of the kidney is to filter your blood. However, when there is too much glucose in your blood, the size of the glucose is too big for your kidneys to filtrate. This damages the kidneys and ultimately glucose will be able to pass through your kidney's semi-permeable membrane. When glucose passes through the kidneys and into your urine, this sign of diabetes is called glucosuria or glucose in your urine.
The two mentioned signs are clinical manifestations, which mean that it can only be detected when you undergo a blood chemistry test and a urine test. The three classic signs of diabetes, you can detect yourself, is frequent urination or polyuria, excessive drinking or polydipsia, and excessive eating or polyphagia. You will be urinating a lot if you have diabetes because once your urine is concentrated with glucose it attracts water which constantly gives you a full bladder and the constant urge to urinate. You will be drinking a lot because you are urinating a lot and you are losing the water content of your blood; you will be dehydrated thus making you thirsty. You eat a lot when you have diabetes because your cells are demanding for glucose, the very glucose that is already highly present in your blood but can't enter the cells because of the lack or absence of insulin.
The other signs of diabetes should be considered more as complications because these only manifest later on when the condition goes untreated. These complications include peripheral neuritis, retinal neuropathy, among others. With diabetes, your blood will be more viscous than usual causing the flow to be sluggish and the delivery of nutrients and other substances become slow. This is why with diabetes, wounds are slow to heal and patients can be candidates for amputation, a very sad fate. The very reason why everybody should know the signs of diabetes is that if any of you see any one manifesting the signs, you can intervene immediately and avoid the potentially crippling complications.
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