Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes and When You Should See a Doctor

Diabetes mellitus (diabetes) involves the impaired use of insulin or inability to make insulin. Insulin absorbs glucose (sugar), so inefficient use of or inability to produce insulin can result in high blood sugar levels. While glucose is an essential energy source for the body, too much of it is dangerous and can cause serious health concerns. Make sure you can recognize possible symptoms of diabetes.

The Types of Diabetes

Diabetes falls into two groups. Type I diabetes was once known as juvenile diabetes, and indicates a lack of insulin produced by the body. Type I diabetes is a permanent diagnosis and requires lifelong treatment.

Type II diabetes is most often diagnosed in adults although more and more children are affected by the disease. In type II cases, the body is unable to use insulin properly. Both conditions lead to the high blood glucose levels and can create potentially serious health consequences.

Prediabetes is a condition in which blood sugars rise higher than normal but are not yet high enough to be diagnosed as type II diabetes. Prediabetes is a reversible condition and early detection will allow the individual to take proactive health actions that can eliminate the high blood glucose levels.

Why should I worry about watching for symptoms of diabetes?

The prevalence of the disease has been on the rise with growing obesity rates and is at the point of a national health crisis. Early intervention and education are key elements to reducing the impact of diabetes on the American public.

To further demonstrate the effect of diabetes in the U.S., refer to the following statistics from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).

• In 2011, there were approximately 20.9 million people with diabetes, up from about seven million 20 years earlier.
• The incidence of new cases was about 1.6 million in 2011.
• In 2010, 5.3 percent of adults in Connecticut were told they had prediabetes. The percentage was 4.8 percent for Massachusetts, but not available for Rhode Island.

With a growing number of people affected by diabetes, make sure you know the symptoms of diabetes, which are outlined below.

Symptoms of Diabetes

Knowing what symptoms to look for and when to see a doctor can help prevent prediabetes from turning into type II diabetes. Diagnosis can help patients get the condition under control before more serious health complications arise.

The following are possible symptoms of diabetes and warrant a visit to your doctor for testing.

• frequent urination.
• extreme thirst.
• extreme hunger.
• fatigue.
• blurry vision.
• wounds that heal slowly.
• unexplained weight loss (this occurs more commonly with type I diabetes).
• and, pain, numbness or tingling in extremities (this is more common with type II diabetes).

When an individual has prediabetes or a mild case of type II diabetes, symptoms of diabetes may be non-existent. The only reliable way to identify diabetes may be through blood tests that measure blood glucose levels at set times.

If you have a history of diabetes in your family or are concerned about the possibility of having diabetes, ask your doctor to order tests that will answer any questions you have.

Diabetic Patients May Qualify for Social Security Disability

Diabetes can be disabling. Patients who suffer complications might qualify for Social Security disability. This depends on whether the condition causes severe impairment or a complication meets the criteria for disability. Talk to Rob Levine, the Heavy Hitter, about your eligibility for Social Security Disability. Give us a call at 866-LAW-SSDI to set up a consultation.