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Red Alert! Warning Signs of Diabetes |
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Written by Diet Detective Editorial Staff
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Nearly one third of Americans with diabetes do not know they have the disease. What should you be looking for?
Since
diabetes causes the sugar in your blood to build up, it can be
diagnosed with a simple blood test measuring your blood's sugar
content. Some people have diabetes for many years without being aware
of it because they don't know about or they ignore the symptoms.
Treating and controlling diabetes is an important step to take in preventing other health problems.
So how do you know if you should have your blood sugar tested?
The cardinal signs of diabetes are the three "P"s:
Polyuria (increased urination)
Polydipsia (increased thirst)
Polyphagia (increased hunger)
Why does this happen?
The
kidneys try to get rid of the excess blood sugar by releasing it in the
urine. As a result, diabetics with uncontrolled sugar levels experience
frequent urination. This makes people drink more to replace the water
lost in the urine, hence polydipsia. And even through the food they are
eating is being broken down into sugar and circling the body, it can't
get into any of the cells, making them feel hungrier. But the extra
food they eat doesn't lead to weight gain because, for the most part,
the energy it contains cannot be used.
Other common symptoms include:
Blurred vision
Frequent infections
Slow healing cuts or sores
Numbness or tingling in hands and feet
Feeling tired Dry itchy skin
Sexual dysfunction
Sudden weight loss
If you or anyone you know has been
experiencing the symptoms above, urge them (or yourself) to go to your
primary care provider for a physical. There's no cure for diabetes, but
it can be controlled, preventing potentially fatal complications later
in life. |
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 08 July 2006 )
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