Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition associated with the increased level of sugar in the bloodstream due to the body’s inability to process this sugar into energy.
The main source of fuel for the body is carbohydrates we consume in the diet. They are converted into glucose, which enters the bloodstream to be delivered to all the body organs and to be used by them as the means to function properly. For them to be able to receive and use glucose hormone insulin is produced and released by the pancreas. For a number of reasons either not sufficient amount of insulin is produced, or it fails to fulfill its duty and make sugar accessible for the vital body organs. This results in the development of diabetes – ancient, but still not fully understood and impossible to cure disease of the modern society.
Although diabetes mellitus is subdivided into two main types, they both share several common symptoms. Here is a short analysis of the signs of this disorder with the explanation of the reasons for their development.
If glucose in the bloodstream is not distributed to the body organs cells, it starts to accumulate in the blood, thus its level increases. In order to get rid of the excessive sugar more frequent urination is provoked. Urine of a diabetes mellitus sufferer has a high concentration of sugar (this state was called “sweet urine” in ancient times).
Frequent urination leads to the dehydration of the organism, which tries to compensate the loss of the fluid by increasing the feeling of thirst. In response to it a sufferer consumes more fluids supporting, at the same time, excessive urination.
Extreme weakness and permanent fatigue is caused by the lack of energy production. A body needs to replenish it timely to function properly. In case with diabetes that is exactly the process of energy supply to the body which is disrupted. As a result, weakness and exhaustion occur.
Cravings for food may seem constant due to the permanent feeling of fatigue. A sufferer’s body feels hunger to increase its energy and return strength. Consequently, a patient consumes more food.
Unexplained weight loss
Along with the increased hunger and demand for food, weight loss is observed if a patient is a victim of diabetes mellitus. That is explained by the fact that body tries to acquire energy from other sources if it cannot use glucose and process nutrients from food. These sources are mainly fat stored in the body and muscle tissue. They are burned in the attempt to meet the needs of the other organs and systems.
It is suggested that blurred vision is caused by the loss of water from the lenses of the eyes, along with overall dehydration. If the treatment is given timely to control diabetes symptoms, normal vision is usually restored.
The wounds tend to heal more slowly, and they are more susceptible to infections in diabetics. The cells lose their ability to get repaired under the influence of high glucose levels in the blood. It is also suggested that the body, namely, immune system, loses its strength and ability to resist the invading germs, which results in more frequent infections and slower healing.
Numbness in the hands, legs, or feet
Strange sensations (especially in the skin), as tingling, burning, or numbness, are caused by the influence of diabetes on the peripheral nervous system, which cells are damaged by the condition. The consequences are seen in the neurological symptoms, mentioned above.
These signs may develop gradually and slowly over the years (especially with type 2 diabetes). In many cases, at the beginning of the disease they do not seem to be troublesome or harmful for a person. Therefore, many people go undiagnosed and untreated for long periods of time, thus aggravating their condition. In some other cases doctors discover their patients suffer from diabetes only when the complications of the disease are already obvious.
Taking into account that diabetes is quite a dangerous health disorder and tricky as well, since it may silently develop before the warning signs become correctly perceived by a patient, it is now recommended for people over 40 to regularly undergo physical examination by health-care providers to timely diagnose the disorder and start an appropriate treatment.
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