| People that have diabetes do not properly use or | | | | Diabetes is often discovered after the relatively quick |
| produce a hormone called insulin. Your body uses | | | | onset of these symptoms. Common health screenings, |
| insulin to convert food and sugar into energy. In some | | | | like those taken during an annual physical, are also |
| cases of diabetes the body actually has built up an | | | | often used when diagnosing a person with diabetes. |
| immunity to insulin, and in other cases it does not | | | | There are some medical events that can be caused |
| produce enough. More than 20 million people in the | | | | by diabetes, so frequently when these events occur |
| United States have diabetes. This accounts for nearly | | | | the doctor will check for diabetes. This includes things |
| 7% of the population. | | | | like heart attacks, strokes, foot ulcers, or eye problems. |
| There are many symptoms of diabetes, but one of | | | | A simple blood test that checks glucose levels is |
| the most common is extreme urinary output and | | | | something that should be done periodically to check for |
| excessive thirst. Distorted or fuzzy vision, inexplicable | | | | diabetes. |
| weight loss, slow healing wounds, and fatigue are also | | | | Genetics play a hand in type 1 and type 2 diabetes. It |
| symptoms of diabetes. Those that have type 1 | | | | appears that type 1 diabetes is as a result of the |
| diabetes will typically see these symptoms develop | | | | body's susceptibility to infections, chemicals, and stress |
| rather rapidly, but those that have type 2 diabetes will | | | | or other environmental variables. A very small percent |
| likely see a much slower onset of symptoms. The | | | | of people develop diabetes very early and this is |
| weight loss and exhaustion associated with diabetes is | | | | thought to be caused by a mutated gene. Type 2 |
| consistent even in cases where normal eating and | | | | diabetes is seen to be inherited much more frequently. |
| sleeping patterns exist. | | | | Other factors, like obesity, can also increase the risk of |
| Glucose, or sugar, is a carbohydrate your body uses | | | | diabetes. |
| as energy. In diabetes, because the body's insulin is not | | | | Diabetes is a disease that affects many millions of |
| properly breaking down the glucose, a high level of | | | | Americans each year. While there is currently no |
| glucose is often present in the blood stream. Since | | | | complete cure for diabetes, it can generally be |
| there is so much glucose in the blood, glucose in the | | | | controlled. Much of what is done to control diabetes is |
| urine is not used. The glucose in the urine causes the | | | | done by the patient. This involves things like properly |
| kidney to begin reabsorbing water. This is what results | | | | exercising, maintaining a healthy diet, using medication, |
| in the frequent urination and also causes thirst or | | | | and constant blood sugar monitoring. Since those with |
| dehydration. In some cases those with undiagnosed | | | | diabetes are more likely to develop foot ulcers, many |
| diabetes often have been drinking drinks that are high | | | | people use diabetic socks, which reduce moisture. |
| in sugar, which only perpetuates the effects of | | | | If you have never had a blood sugar test, if it has been |
| diabetes on the body. Over an extended period of | | | | a while since your last test, or if you have experienced |
| time, the high levels of glucose will cause the eyes lens | | | | any of these symptoms, it is probably a good idea to |
| to change shape, which results in the eye problems | | | | have your blood sugar checked. |
| that are symptomatic of diabetes. | | | | |