Diabetes is one of the most common diseases affecting a large population, and has only been growing by the day. The reasons for diabetes are many, and genetics plays a significant role in it. But what is being missed out by many is that lifestyle is even more important, as it has the potential for diabetes control.
Before we look into the details of knowing if you have diabetes, let’s first understand what it is. Diabetes is a metabolic disorder which occurs when the sugar level in your body is extremely high. The body uses glucose present in the blood for energy. It is broken down and converted into energy by a hormone called insulin produced by the pancreas. When the pancreas produces less or no insulin, the glucose does not reach your cells to convert it into energy.
There are three types of diabetes. This might help you understand diabetes in detail, and manage it the right way if you have it.
Type 1 Diabetes: This type of diabete occurs when your body has an autoimmune problem where the immune system wrongly attacks the healthy insulin producing cells causing the body to lose the ability to produce insulin. There is very little or no insulin produced, and can occur at any age.
Type 2 Diabetes: The inability to use the blood sugars to produce energy is what happens in type 2 diabetes. The cells that aid in the production of insulin stop reacting, which results in the accumulation of sugar in the blood.
Gestational Diabetes: This occurs during pregnancy, and is usually a temporary condition. The need for a little more glucose arises during pregnancy, for the nourishment of your baby. As a result the body demands more insulin. In some women the body lacks the ability to produce extra insulin which results in gestational diabetes.
So, do you have diabetes?
Here’s a list of the early signs of diabetes you must watch out for. It will help you in diabetes control and also in managing it if you already have it.
Read on.
Signs Of Diabetes
The onset of diabetes starts with a few minor issues, which you might not realise could turn into diabetes. It starts with:
Feeling thirsty a little more than normal
Feeling thirsty is a normal thing. Likewise, drinking a lot of water is quite natural and is a great habit too. But then, when you feel thirsty almost every minute, and overload yourself with water, it needs to be addressed. Excessive thirst is one of the earliest and evident sign of being diabetic. The reason behind the thirst is, when the sugar levels are high in your body, it needs fluids to dilute the sugars and ends up extracting fluids from various tissues of the body making you dehydrated. As a result you need more water.
Do you pee very frequently? It is one of the signs of diabetes
It is like a chain reaction. You start with excessive thirst, end up drinking a lot of water, and as a natural process you tend to urinate more frequently. If you have high levels of sugar in your body, the body tries to eliminate it through urination.
Feeling tired all the time
Sugars present in the body are one of the main sources of energy. When the body fails to convert the sugars into energy, the body starts feeling lethargic and fatigued.
Increased appetite
When you have diabetes, the body is unable to produce energy. The tissues in the body fall short of energy and you tend to feel hungry even after you’ve eaten food.
Everything you see seems blurry
The fluid starts to fill into the eye duct which makes your vision blurry. This is one of the signs of diabetes, which occurs when the sugar levels in the body shoot up very high, and resolves when you normalise your sugar levels.
Wounds don’t heal easily
This is common in people who develop type 2 diabetes. Bacteria are known to thrive on sugars, and if you have a wound it needs extra care to be taken so that it heals well. The slightest of your ignorance can cause the healing to delay more, and if not treated properly, it might cause further complications.
Rapid weight loss
You might eat adequate food, but because of the inability to breakdown the glucose into energy, the body might break down other energy sources which include proteins and fats in your body. This leads to rapid weight loss.
Now that you’ve got a fair idea about the signs of diabetes, let’s move on to what you can do for diabetes control.
Once you have diabetes, it is a lifelong affair. You will have to keep a check on your daily activities and mainly what you eat. Here’s a brief list of what to do for diabetes control.
- The most important thing you must do is to Consult Your Doctor if you notice any signs of diabetes. This is the first step to control diabetes.
- If you are diagnosed with diabetes, check and learn everything about type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
- Eat the right kind of food with limited carbohydrates and more foods that help in managing your blood sugar levels.
- Be active and exercise regularly. Exercise regulates the hormonal balance in the body which is much needed for diabetes control.
- If you are on insulin, you must make sure you do not forget taking it as instructed by your doctor, and do not make any alterations if you feel your sugar levels are fluctuating.
- Cut down sugar intake completely as it could cause unfavourable complications.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle with a positive attitude.
These are the most important and recommended tips that can help you in diabetes control. If you have more to ask about, you’re most welcome to walk in for a consultation with our expert Diabetologists. So hurry up and book your visit now!
ABOUT THE HOSPITAL:
Sai Sanjeevini Multi Speciality Hospitals a unit of Singapanga Healthcare Pvt. Ltd has been providing health services to the people in need for the last 14 years. This health care organisation combines practical, proven research, cutting edge procedures and state-of-the-art treatment to produce excellent medical and lifestyle outcome for our patients. We also have a wide array of specialties including Pulmonology, Neurology, Gynecology and are pioneers among all Orthopedic Hospital in Hyderabad.