The symptoms of diabetes may begin slowly and hard to identify at first. They may include fatigue, frequent urination, excessive thirst, and a feeling of becoming sick. When there is extra glucose in the blood, one way the body gets rid of it is through frequent urination. This loss of fluids can cause excessive thirst. Diabetes can also cause other symptoms such as blurred vision, slow healing of skin, sudden weight loss, genital itching, and gum and urinary tract infections.
People who suffer from diabetes must take extra precautions when wanting to exercise. These people should not exercise outside on very hot or humid days due to the increased risk of heat stroke or exhaustion. If you are exercising in warm weather , dress in loose-fitted clothing or special fabrics that promote heat loss. To prevent dehydration, drink a cup of cold water before and after exercise. If your exercise session lasts longer that thirty minutes or if you sweat alot, drink water during your workout. Make sure that you know the warning signs of heart problems such as jaw, arm, and chest pain, dizziness, nausea, irregular pulse, and unusual shortness of breath during exercise. Exercise, along with good nutrition, helps decrease body fat, which helps normalize glucose metabolism. Exercise also helps lower coronary risk factors such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong disease which occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugar levels. Without adequate insulin, glucose builds up in the bloodstream leading to increased hunger. In addition, the high levels of glucose in the blood causes the patient to urinate more, which also causes excessive thirst. Within five to ten years after diagnosis, the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas are completely destroyed and no more insulin can be produced. Type 1 diabetes can happen at any age, but it usually begins with people under the age of twenty-five. The exact cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown and only accounts for around 5 percent of the new cases formed each year.
Previously known as noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. 90-95 % of people who have diabetes have type 2. People with type 2 diabetes produce insulin, but either do not make enough insulin or their bodies do not use the insulin it makes. Type 2 diabetes typically occurs after the age of forty years. A resistance to insulin develops, often accompanied by excess weight and leaving the pancreas unable to produce enought insulin to compensate.
Hypoglycemia is the clinical syndrome that results from low blood sugar. The symptoms of hypoglycemia can vary from person to person which can become severe enough to need treatment. Classically, hypoglycemia is diagnosed by a low blood sugar with symptoms that resolve when the blood sugar returns to a normal range. While patients who do not have any metabolic problems can complain of symptoms suggestive of low blood sugar. Hypoglycemia usually occurs in patients being treated for type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Patients with pre-diabetes can also have low blood sugars on occasion if their high circulating insulin levels are further challenged by a prolonged period of fasting.
Living with diabetes is not fun, but by taking preventative care of yourself, you can do the things you want to do in life. Exercise and proper nutrition are very important to steps in recovery and you never know, maybe you didn`t have diabetes after all, you just needed a lesson in nutrition.
