How to Spot Symptoms of Diabetes

Symptoms of Diabetes present themselves in multiples ways. Type 1 diabetes usually occurs early in life following an infection or a virus. Type 2 diabetes is more of a gradual onset disease. Both are helped by early diabetes testing so that treatment can prevent further complications.

The following symptoms are consistent to both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Follow these steps to spot symptoms of diabetes and get diabetes testing as early as possible.

Instructions

1. PAY ATTENTION TO BODY FATIGUE AND WEAKNESS.

   If you are constantly and unusually tired and worn out, consider getting diabetes testing. The body is inefficient or unable to process the glucose in the blood into energy for your cells to operate. That means, in easy language, you are tired, very tired. This could be caused by other conditions so get diabetes testing as well as other tests recommended by your doctor.

2. KEEP TRACK OF ANY WEIGHT LOSS.

   Like keeping a watch on oil levels and gas mileage, paying attention to your body weight is a good way to catch early signs of diabetes. Testing is necessary to confirm, but if you have unexplained weight loss it may be due to your body's need to burn fat in order to give your body energy. Get diabetes testing.

3. NOTICE CHANGES IN THIRST AND URINATION.

   When the glucose level is high in the blood the body tries to thin it out by causing a thirst mechanism and flushing the system through the kidneys. In diabetes, testing has shown that cells are unable to process the glucose so blood levels rise. That leads to extra drinking and extra urinating.

4. MAKE NOTE OF ALTERED MOODS.

   If you are suddenly increasingly irritable, edgy, lack of ability to focus, or mental slowness of thought see your doctor for diabetes testing immediately. These can all be symptoms of diabetes induced high blood sugar.

5. ALWAYS GET DIABETES TESTING FOR TINGLING EXTREMITIES.

   Diabetes can cause nerve damage, some of which may be reversible. If you notice a tingling, or prickly feeling in your toes, feet, fingers, hands or other portions of your body see a doctor immediately. Do not delay diabetes testing for more significant symptoms to emerge.

   * See more tips below on spotting symptoms of diabetes.

Tips & Warnings

• Also pay attention to dry and itchy skin, scratches and cuts that won't heal, or a sense that your vision is unusually blurred. All of these symptoms could be caused by something else.

• However, if a few of these symptoms present themselves together, get diabetes testing.

• Diabetes testing may also be in order if you have even one of these symptoms and a family history of diabetes.