Symptoms Of Diabetes In Teens

Symptoms Of Diabetes In Teens! If you have concerns about diabetes, this information discusses the different diabetes symptoms and complications. This information should assist you in making better decisions to improve manage diabetes and enhance your quality of life. Diabetes is not a death sentence and managing or overcoming diabetes requires concerted effort.

A. What is Diabetes?

Insulin is a hormone that helps the body use glucose (one of many simplest types of sugar) for energy. The pancreas makes insulin though a few of its cells. When food is eaten, the pancreas in time breaks down the sugars and starches into glucose that is utilized as fuel from the cells in our bodies.

For a diabetic with Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas does not produce any insulin and the diabetic needs daily injections of insulin. This usually starts when people are young.

For a diabetic with Type 2 diabetes, the body does not produce enough insulin or ignores the insulin produced. This is the most popular type of diabetes although nearly half of the afflicted don't know having the disease.

With the possible lack of insulin production, blood sugar build up in our bodies and tissue and they are excreted by your body through urine thereby resulting in a loss with the main way to obtain fuel needed by the body. This lack of glucose contributes to diabetes complications.

Another way of diabetes is gestational diabetes felt by some pregnant women during the third trimester from the pregnancy. This usually resolves itself a couple of months after childbirth but some of these women will build up Type 2 diabetes later on in life.

B. Symptoms

Early detection of diabetes and medicine can usually decrease the chances of developing diabetes related complications.

i. Type 1

- Frequent must urinate

- Excessive thirst

- Extreme hunger

- Sudden fat loss that is unusual

- Tiredness during the day and irritability

ii. Type 2

- Any of the above symptoms

- Getting infections frequently

- Sudden adjustments to eyesight and vision

- Cuts and/or bruises that are slow to heal

- Tingling and/or numbness in the hands and/or feet

- Very itchy or dry skin

It is important to note that some individuals with Type 2 diabetes never suffer any symptom which is the reason it is one of the "silent killers". This is why it is very important to get tested frequently.

C. Complications

Diabetes raises the risks for several health problems that are frequently much more severe. However with the medicine and change in lifestyle many can delay or prevent any complications. These are a few of the complications;

1. Eye complications: Diabetics use a higher risk of vision problems and blindness. Having regular vision checkups is vital to treat any conditions that develop quickly.

2. Foot Complications: Foot problems occur mainly because of nerve damage in feet that could lead to loss of feeling in feet. Nerve disease also reduces sensation in feet. Most people with diabetes have artery disease which reduces the flow of blood to feet and that's why most people with diabetes are much more likely to have to have a foot or leg amputation. It is therefore essential to take care of feet by wearing the right shoes to see a doctor immediately when foot problems develop.

3. Various skin problems may develop and it is essential to see a physician immediately as soon as you notice any skin disorders.

4. Heart disease and stroke: It is important to speak with your doctor to go over steps to lessen your risk as being a diabetic to heart disease and stroke.

5. High blood pressure level: Two out of three diabetics have blood pressure which increases the risk for heart attack, stroke, eye problems, and kidney disease. Have your blood pressure checked frequently.

6. Kidney disease: Having diabetes could cause damage to the kidneys and lead to them failing. Failing kidneys lose power they have to filter out one's body's waste products ultimately causing kidney disease.