How do you know whether you should be concerned or not? Diabetes is a serious, life-threatening condition, and it's especially important to be aware of the symptoms.
If you have a family history of diabetes, then you should have regular check-ups with your physician and stay aware of how your food choices and eating habits can adversely affect you.
The primary symptom of diabetes, whether type I or II is too high, or higher than normal, blood sugar levels.
Type I is caused by a person's body being unable to make enough insulin to control blood sugar at proper levels.
Type II is when a person's body basically "ignores" (or, resists) insulin, which makes it difficult, or almost impossible for the body to maintain ideal blood sugar levels.
However, the first signs od diabetes aren't actually symptoms, they're actually considered the side-effects of high blood sugar or your body misusing the sugar in it's body.
It's important to remember that you can't tell you have high-blood sugar or blood-sugar levels that aren't correct for your body, simply by looking at yourself or asking someone else what their experiences have been.
Make sure to talk to your physician immediately if you suspect diabetes.
The first major symptom (or side-effect) that most people notice is extreme thirst.
If one is constantly thirsty, and there is no visible external cause- such as exposure to high temperatures, working-out, being sick, or even eating salty food- then it's definitely a good idea to discuss it with your physician.
Another symptom is excessive hunger- eating to the point of over-eating, or eating more frequently, then this could be an indicator of diabetes as well.
The reason for this is, if your body isn't maintaining proper blood sugar levels or your insulin levels aren't correct, then your body will think you're hungry even when you aren't.
Frequent urination which isn't caused by a urinary tract infection, kidney infection, or other bladder abnormalities is another indicator- most people don't even notice frequent urination until they find themselves waking up frequently at night to use the bathroom, or find themselves unable to sit through a class or meeting without interruption.
Exhaustion, tiredness, extreme fatigue, and excessive sleepiness are also part of the first signs od diabetes.
If one finds themselves feeling exhausted or fatigued- even after a full night's rest, and they haven't been ill, overly stressed, or had their sleep interrupted- it's possible that diabetes could be the culprit.
A major red-flag is when one finds the tiredness and exhaustion occur very soon after eating, this indicates that blood sugar levels aren't correct.
If you find yourself with unexplained weight-loss or weight-gain, then you should consult your physician.
Unintentional, rapid weight-loss or weight-gain is also an indicator that your blood-sugar and insulin levels are incorrect, and you may have diabetes.
Any unintentional loss or gain can be an indicator of many things, and it's a sure sign that you should consult your physician immediately, to help find the cause.
While each sign of diabetes listed above can also be an indicator of other health problems, it's important to discuss them with your physician to rule out other serious conditions.
Testing for diabetes is extremely simple, and could save your life.
If any of these symptoms are present, alone or together- for an extended amount of time, see your physician immediately.
Diabetes, with proper precaution, can be managed and long-term damage avoided.