Type 2 Diabetes - Symptoms of the Silent Disease

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease that comes on very often unnoticed. In fact it is estimated that over 30% of people who have diabetes are unaware that they have the disease at all.



In my own case, doctors believe that had had the disease for sometime before diagnosis, but because the symptoms are not always obvious, and can also be put down to getting older in some cases (including mine); I never thought to go to the doctor to get checked out.



In my case the symptoms were as follows:



1. Tiredness



I was working a very physical job at the time, restoring properties after floods or fires, and found that I needed what I thought was a "power nap" at around 3.30pm every day.



As I was 46 at the time, I simply thought that I was getting a bit older, and just couldn't do what I used to be able to do. I even remember my father saying the same thing when he got to about 45 years of age, so I wasn't unduly concerned.



2. Irritability



I started to joke that I always thought I would become more mellow as I grew older. In fact everyone was noticing how irritable I was becoming, particularly with my wife and children. In fact we divorced some time before my diagnosis.



In fact irritability is another symptom of diabetes, not conclusive of course, but when combined with other things, you never know.



3. Blurred vision.



I noticed that my eyes were a little out of focus at times. I got some eye drops but these did nothing. My optician had sent me a reminder to have my eyes tested and my prescription updated. I has worn reading glasses for some time, and just thought the blurred vision was due to that.



That was until one morning when I woke up and could hardly see a thing! I could see colour, but everything was a blur, no definition.



This was when I finally went to the doctor and was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.



Blurred vision is a result of sugars building up in the fluid in the eye, which then distorts the lens, resulting in blurred vision.



4. Thirst



Before my eyes started to distort, I had also had an incredible thirst. I would literally drink about 5 gallons of water a day, and needed to urinate frequently, every 30 minutes or so.



This is because the kidneys are trying to flush out the excess sugar in the blood, resulting in the frequent urinating and dehydration, requiring a lot of replacement of body fluids by drinking.



The bottom line here is that like many people, I do not want to visit the doctor unless I k now there's something seriously wrong.



The moral of this tale is that you should not ignore changes in your body, particularly if you are over 40 years of age.

Type 2 Diabetes - The Silent Symptoms of the Disease

There is often no big fanfare when type 2 diabetes appears. The symptoms can be many and diverse, and often put down to signs of aging rather than the chronic disease that it is. It is thought that 30% of people in the Western world have the disease but are unaware of it.



I also simply thought that some of the changes in my lifestyle were down to getting older, and as I hate going to see the doctor, it is thought that I may have been suffering from the disease for some time before my diagnosis. This delay has eaten into the 10 year timescale, years of grace if you will, before the health consequences of untreated diabetes set in.



Here are the symptoms I had before diagnosis.



1. Sleepiness



I was working in a job which required a lot of physical exertion, and had been for over twenty years. So it was no surprise to me that I needed to shut my eyes for a few minutes ever afternoon.



Many people find, as they get older, that they get tired more easily. I found this at just 46, but thought nothing of it.



2. Lack of Patience



I always imagined that I would become calmer and more reasonable as I grow older. This was not the case, but I didn't notice. Since those times, people often remind me how I used to snap at everyone, and was often unpleasant to be around. It cost me my marriage.



Diabetes often involves high blood pressure which can manifest itself in stress and hypertension.



3. Sight Problems



I had noticed for some time that my sight was slightly blurred, but linked this to an eye test reminder from my optometrist. My glasses may need changing, so I put it down to this.



Then I woke up one morning and couldn't see anything! I could see colour and shapes, but not distinctly.



That was it. Fortunately I was spending the weekend visiting my parents and my father was a retired doctor. He thought it was diabetes, and marched me to the doctor!



As the sugar levels in the blood increase, the blood becomes thicker. This also affects the fluid in the eyes, causing the lens to distort and not focus properly.



4. Unquenchable Thirst



I just put the fact that I was continually drinking water down to my physical job and a virus. I thought it would pass; after all, I've always been one of those people who never get ill.



Thirst is another symptom of diabetes, as the body dehydrates as the kidneys attempt to flush out the excess blood sugar in the urine.



I used to avoid the doctor whenever possible, like many others. The thing is, make a point of having a health check at least every two years, as those signs of aging may be signs of something else.



Don't just kid yourself that you're simply getting older!

Signs Of Diabetes In Children - Know These Diabetic Symptoms As They Are A Silent Killer

It is not easy to detect the signs of diabetes in children. There are bright chances that your 5, 4, 3 or even 1 year old child is suffering from diabetic symptoms. Do you have doubt that your sweet heart is experiencing signs of diabetes in children?



If you are not nodding your head towards left and right, then this is the right time to spend your few minutes here. This article would be worth reading as it will help to detect the signs of diabetes in children.



Diabetes is a chronic ailment. It increases the amount of sugar in the stream of blood. If this chronic condition is left untreated it may cause many health related complications and many severe problems in the future.



Excessive Thirst: The most usually seen diabetic symptoms in children are frequent urination and excessive thirst. If your child is feeling thirstier than routine then there are chances that underlying reason is diabetes. The elevated level of sugar in the bloodstream causes the child to feel thirsty. The thirst is not their routine quench of water; they drink plenty of liquid and still in search of more. Varieties of different liquids are not enough to fulfill their unquenchable thirst. However it forces the children to make plenty of trips to the restroom.



Blurriness In Vision: The next alarming signs of diabetes in children is blurriness in their vision. The major dilemma with this sin of diabetes is that children are unable o explain their feeling. They are unable o detect that there is something going wrong with their vision. The blurriness in vision comes in episodes. Most children are unable to explain these blurry episodes to their parents.



Numbness And Tingling Sensation In Hand And Feet: Diabetes suffering children also undergo tingling sensation in their extremities. This feeling is not easier to explain for the adults even. So the young children remain completely blank about this feeling.



Slow Healing Cuts: It is absolutely normal for the children to suffer from bruises, cuts as well as wounds. If the child is suffering from elevated levels of sugar in the bloodstream then there are chances that the parents may think that wound was deeper so it is taking a longer healing time. It is the responsibility of the parents to watch the wound carefully.



Mood Swings: The mostly misunderstood sign of diabetes in children are the mood swings. The children become more irritable. The sharp rise and fall in the blood sugar level cause the sharp swifts in the hormonal levels as well, these results in mood swings.

Diabetes, the Other Silent Killer

Figures from the American Diabetic Association show that diabetes is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S, killing approximately 210000 persons every year. Medical and other related costs can soar over $100 billion a year!



The good news is there is a great deal that you can do to help manage the condition at an early stage. Being informed truly is the best medicine. Learning as much as you can about your diabetes, how to control your blood sugar, complications and how to prevent them, can help you stay healthy. As always, be sure to consult your physician first before implementing or changing diet or exercise routines or taking any over the counter medications or nutritional supplements.



Diabetes is a serious condition. It is a chronic disorder of carbohydrates, fat and protein metabolism, characterized by fasting elevation of blood sugar level and a greatly increased risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and loss of nerve functions.



There are two major types of diabetes. Type I and Type II.



Type I is also known as Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM) and often occurs in children and adolescents. Individuals with Type I diabetes need to inject insulin everyday. It occurs when the pancreas stops producing insulin (a hormone which helps deliver sugar from the blood to the body's cells).



Type II is also known as Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM) and is usually an adult disease. In type II diabetes, insulin is present but not appropriately available due to insulin-resistance. For a variety of physiological reasons, the hormone (insulin) is unable to do its job. The pancreas produces insulin but the body's cells do not respond to its action and can't absorb the glucose from the blood so glucose levels rise in the blood.



There are a number of causes which give rise to diabetes. Some of the causes are listed below; however, they should not be considered a complete list.



Heredity plays a major role. Some individuals or ethnic groups may be genetically susceptible than others.



Experts are convinced that obesity and a sedentary lifestyle also play a major role in the development of diabetes.



Impaired digestion and an overworked pancreas.



Syndrome-X (results from a combination of disorders such as hypertension, high cholesterol, blood clotting abnormalities and insulin resistance)
Chromium deficiency.



Prenatal factors. Recent evidence supports the concept that the nutritional status of the mother during pregnancy plays a role in determining whether the child will develop diabetes later in life.



Food with refined sugars and high glycemic index.



Imbalance between two critical hormones- insulin and glucagon.



Misplaced T7 (thoracic 7) vertebra.



Complications resulting from diabetes can be grave if not controlled.
Some complications include but are not limited to:



Hypoglycemia and diabetic coma.



Cataracts, diabetic neuropathy, retinopathy, nephropathy, skin ulcers, gangrene leading to amputation, stubborn skin infections and heart disease.



There are some early warning signs you should be aware of if you suspect development of diabetes such as 1) Frequent urination 2) Constant thirst or hunger 3) Blurred vision 4) Numb or tingling hands or feet 5) Slow healing of cuts and bruises 6) Frequent skin infections.



Proper treatment is often delayed because diabetes is not diagnosed until a patient is already experiencing complications.



Diet is an extremely important part of diabetic therapy. Nutrition is the cornerstone for good health. A couple of diet considerations after consultation with your physician could include complex carbohydrates that are rich in fiber, fresh vegetables and fruits of low glycemic index, rather than simple carbohydrates such as breads and pastries.



Complex carbohydrates take longer for the body to break down and absorb and therefore provide a slower or more gradual increase in blood sugar levels. Your physician may even advise you to eat smaller frequent meals throughout the day. Along with diet, exercise is also of equal importance. Exercise will increase tissue levels of chromium and also increases the number of insulin receptors. In many instances, changes in diet and exercise may push borderline blood sugar down to a normal range.



The best prevention is adopting a healthy lifestyle. Because obesity is so strongly associated with TypeII diabetes, weight control is an important element of diabetic management. If you want to lose weight to control diabetes, high blood pressure and reduce the risk for developing heart disease then walk, walk and walk some more.



Insulin injections don't cure diabetes. They enable you to live with it.....that is if you call injecting yourself multiple times a day, "living". The key word is HEALTHY LIFESTYLE through diet, exercise and certain herbs and supplements.