Knowing When to Call Your Doctor

Symptoms of diabetes are often hidden but at times might seem harmless effects of daily living. Many times people live with diabetes for years with no visible symptoms at all. In fact, in the U.S. alone there are over 6 million people don't recognize what the symptoms of diabetes are which makes them completely oblivious to the fact that they have diabetes.
However, you don't need to be statistic. If you are able to recognize potential diabetes symptoms you can head the disease off and receive an early diagnoses and treatment which will give you a lifetime of better health. See your doctor if you have experienced any of the following diabetes symptoms.




- Extreme thirst and increased urination - Diabetes results in excess sugar building up in your blood. To absorb the excess sugar your kidneys are forced to work overtime. When your kidneys can't keep up they move the extra sugar into your urine. This causes you to have to urinate more frequently which can leave you dehydrated. Because you will be drinking more to quench your thirst, you will be urinating even more.
- Tiredness - You may feel tired. Now, admittedly there are a variety of factors that can contribute to this. They include dehydration from increased urination and your body's inability to function properly, since it's unable to use sugar for energy.
- Weight loss - Weight fluctuations also fall under the umbrella of possible diabetes symptoms. After losing sugar through frequent urination, you also lose calories. At the same time, diabetes may keep the sugar from your food from reaching your cells - leading to constant hunger. The effect of these problems often leads to swift weight loss, especially if you are suffering from type 1 diabetes.




- Blurred vision - Diabetes symptoms sometimes can affect your vision. Increased blood sugar levels often pull fluid from your tissues, including the lenses of your eyes. After time this can affect your ability to focus.
- Slow-healing sores or frequent infections - Doctors and people with diabetes have observed that infections seem more common if you have diabetes. Medical studies are still unclear whether high levels of blood sugar impair your body's natural healing process and your ability to fight infections. In women bladder and vaginal infections are also common.
- Tingling hands and feet - Excess sugar in your blood can lead to nerve damage. Because of this tingling and loss of sensation in your hands and feet, as well as burning pain in your arms, hands, legs and feet is not uncommon.
- Red, swollen, tender gums -Diabetes may weaken your ability to fight germs, which increases the risk of infection in your gums and in the bones that hold your teeth in place. Your gums may pull away from your teeth, your teeth may become loose, or you may develop sores or pockets of pus in your gums - especially if you have a gum infection before diabetes develops.
Take your body's hints seriously
If you notice any possible diabetes symptoms, contact your doctor. The earlier you are able to diagnose Diabetes the sooner your treatment can begin. Diabetes can be a life threatening disease; however, with your active participation you can readily manage diabetes while enjoying an active, healthy life.