Excess Thirst and Diabetes Warning Signs- Know What to Look For

Picture a desert. It's hot, the sun is beating down with excessive heat. You're unsure if it's an oasis or a mirage in the distance. You're panting so heavy. Your tongue feels like it's too big for your mouth. You feel as if you haven't had a drink of water in months. You're craving just a sip of water. Do you equate a desert to the inside of your mouth-an unquenchable desire to drink anything and everything in sight?



Well, excess thirst is just one symptom of diabetes mellitus. Before you jump to conclusions and misdiagnose your symptoms, you need to know what to look for. Here's a checklist of the causes of excess thirst. See if any of them describe your insatiable thirst.



-Hormone imbalances. These include high levels of the thyroid hormone.



-Certain drugs or medications. These include antihistamines, caffeine, or alcohol.



-Psychogenic Polydipsia. This is a psychiatric condition causing a person to feel thirsty for no reason at all.



-Increased exercise. This increases the body's water requirements.



-Damage to the hypothalamus, an area of the brain.



-Diabetes insipidus. It is a disease that causes excessive urination that results in dehydration.



All right, you've looked the checklist over and none of the sources described your thirst. Now, you're almost convinced your excess thirst might be a symptom of diabetes. Remember: You need to know what to look for before you misdiagnose yourself with diabetes. There are two sure-fire ways you can find out if you're diabetic or not:



-A blood glucose test is a great way to detect diabetes.



-Schedule a doctor appointment for a proper diagnosis.



So, you've made that dreaded, but important, doctor appointment. Now what? Well, your doctor needs to know several things in order to diagnose you properly. Be prepared to know the answers to the following questions your doctor will ask. It would be helpful if you would jot down some of these answers or some of your concerns before the appointment. It seems it's so easy to forget important things when we go to the doctor's office. Write down a list of the medications you currently take. This is very important information. Don't be afraid to ask your doctor about other symptoms you might be experiencing, too.



-When the problem began.



-What types of liquids you drink.



-What other medical conditions you might have.



-What medications or drugs you may be taking.



-How much you drink each day.



-How often you exercise.



-Whether you feel dehydrated or have a dry mouth.



-Whether your thirst is constant or occurs only at specific times.



-Whether you have increased or decreased the amount of fluids you drink each day.



-Whether your weight has changed drastically.



-Whether you are having any other questionable symptoms.



Okay, the diagnosis is official. You're a type 2 diabetic. You're willing to follow your new lifestyle changes, but you feel as though you still need a little extra help. I know exactly what the answer is!

Symptoms of Diabetes - Frequent Urination, Increased Thirst, & Lots More

When you have high blood sugar you are said to have diabetes. One of the earlier ways of detecting diabetes was to smell the urine. If the urine had a sweetish smell, it meant you had diabetes. That is why it is called Diabetes Mellitus in its full form.



What are the symptoms of diabetes? Excessive thirst, excessive urination, excessive sweating (beware it can also be indicator of a heart attack or hypertension), unusual digestive problems, unusual variations in appetite, general fatigue, tiredness, fainting or frequent headaches, blurring of vision, etc., may indicate the onset of diabetes.



Gaining weight or unusual loss of weight is also one of the symptoms of Type II diabetes. This is because either your body is unable to process the sugar and carbohydrates in the food, or there is excessive sugar in your bloodstream. it's best to rule it out.



If you have any of these symptoms, it is best you are examined by a physician immediately. Your blood tests would show whether you are a Type II diabetic or not. Don't get worried. If you are 40 plus in age, the onset of Type II diabetes has just begun. And IS NOT a cause for worry.



These symptoms suddenly appear sometimes because of hormonal changes as the human body shifts from the borderline of adult to middle age, and sometimes mirrors the very symptoms of diabetes. ladies generally should see whether it is their menstrual time of the month.



If normally you are drinking say 'x' amount of water, and suddenly your water intake goes up by say 50 per cent, and the temperatures are normal, then you are a possible candidate.



Similarly, if there is unexpected gain in weight, then the chances of your having diabetes does go up, because the digestive system is unable to process the carbohydrates and sugar in your food, because of the impairment of the insulin system.



If you have nausea or similar oral ejaculation tendencies, then again this might be a cause, although there can be other causes for it. It is best to eliminate diabetes as the cause.



There is yet another symptom. For example if you have a fainting spell, and your blood glucose level shows a lower than normal level, it is quite possible that you are suffering from diabetes. This is known as hypoglycemia.



To explain better diabetes, note that the body needs energy, and this is supplied in the form of carbohydrates extracted from the foods that you eat. When the body is unable to digest fully, meaning extract fully, the carbohydrates that you ate, then the surplus carbohydrates, which also contain sugar, remain in the system, and your blood glucose level rises, in view of the excess sugar present. This creates a diabetic condition. That's why some people have a feeling of fullness, tiredness (since you are not used to carrying so much carbohydrates and sugar in your body), and fatigue.



Due to the excess sugar, it induces thirst, as the body tries to assimilate the sugar, and asks for more water to absorb it. This thirst as it is satiated, in turn triggers excessive urination, as the water absorbs the water, and the kidney tries to flush it all out.



A major symptom of diabetes is your weight. If your weight is above the the level determined scientifically for you, then you have a high chance of getting diabetes Type II. Obesity is certainly a high trigger for the onset of diabetes. Therefore get your weight checked properly. There is a method, known as the Body Mass Index, which co-relates your height, weight, and your waist measurement to find out whether your are overweight, obese, or the right weight.



If you have any or a combination of the symptoms described above, don't hesitate to consult a physician right away.