Home | Health Problems & Diseases
Diabetes can be loosely termed as a condition where the amount of glucose in your blood rises to dangerously high levels, either because your body isn't making the amount of insulin it needs to metabolize the glucose or if it does not acknowledge the presence of insulin and is thus unable to use the glucose as energy. This glucose, which then accumulates in your blood, is responsible for a gamut of complications, some of which can even be life-threatening. However, what makes diabetes one of the most threatening of all diseases is the fact that its initial stages are very hard to detect, leading victims to ignore them until the more severe conditions set in. and although there is no foolproof sign to determine if you have diabetes or not, without submitting to a laboratory test, there are a few initial indicators that characterize diabetes, and the fact that it is on the prowl! When your body is subject to the high glucose levels which diabetes imposes, it tries to discard the sugar by diverting the 'over-sweet' blood to your kidneys. Your kidneys in turn, dilute this sugar with large amounts of water, which you then excrete as urine. And so, even though your consumption of water remains uniform at what you are accustomed to, you will still feel the urge to urinate several times a day. The next symptom, which is excessive thirst, is a direct consequence of urinating more than is usual. When the water levels in your body are depleted, your body faces a state of dehydration, making your brain send thirst signals. However, this is a vicious cycle that your body is trapped in, as irrespective of the amount of water you drink, you are still excreting a large percentage of that same water out of your system, making your body as parched as it formerly was. When your body is starved of energy, on account of the mal-utilization of glucose, you may begin to feel lightheaded and weak. Many people assume that this weakness is just a passing phase which needs rest to get better. However, it is the silent signal your body is sending to you, indicating that the food you have consumed is not being used by your cells, which is making them weak and fatigued. The rising glucose levels in your body affect your nervous system, causing gradual numbness at first, and then a complete loss of sensation as the blood glucose levels continue to escalate. This condition, which is termed as Diabetic Neuropathy, is particularly discernable in your fingertips and your feet. Diabetes is also responsible for hindering the circulation of blood in your body, because of the thickening of veins it brings about. And so, any cuts and wounds on your body will take a lot longer to heal and will also be particularly prone to infection. The latter is caused by the high blood glucose levels, which are fertile breeding ground for bacteria and fungi, which bring about a number of skin infections and allergies. These conditions, though tremendously severe in their own right, are only a precursor to diabetes. The Pre-Diabetic Phase, as this period is known, is unpredictably volatile or sedate. in certain cases, individuals are known to have suffered from pre-diabetes for a major part of their life, without this disease ever advancing into its more destructive stage, while in some others, diabetes was immediate to catch on with pre-diabetes lasting for merely a couple of months. Pre-Diabetes is a lot easier to control and treat than diabetes in itself, and if diagnosed in time, can be arrested at this phase for the remainder of the victim's life. And so, if you find yourself experiencing any of these symptoms, don't hesitate to contact your physician immediately. As the adage does, it's better to be safe than sorry and in this case, it may even save you your life!
Article Source: http://www.approvedarticles.com
Please Rate this Article
5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5
# of Ratings = 1 | Rating = 5/5
