Whether or not a person has diabetes can be easily ascertained by conducting a simple blood glucose test. However, in the majority of cases, it is not uncommon for diabetes symptoms to go undetected for some time before it is diagnosed. This is because many of the symptoms are also common complaints for other diseases as well as diabetes. Some of the common symptoms of diabetes are:
1. Frequent urination, especially at nighttime, may be a possible diabetes symptom. However, this symptom by itself is not a sure indication of the disease. Also, most people would approach a doctor only after the problem would become intensely annoying and constant.
2. Another likely symptom would be inexplicable weight loss. But, this again doesn’t always suggest that a person may have diabetes. The problem here is that most people trying to lose weight would be happy with such an occurrence and may attribute it to increased metabolic activity rather than consult a doctor, unless there is an abnormal weight loss over a short period of time.
3. Some diabetic symptoms, like the slow healing of skin infections, wounds and especially sores on feet and ankles attract attention and are positive signs that a person may have diabetes.
4. Symptoms like blurred vision and tingling or numbness in the extremities of the hands and feet are quite irritating and more likely to be given medical attention and diagnosis. Such symptoms are often a definite indication that a person has diabetes.
It is advisable for individuals who experience one or more of the symptoms mentioned to contact their physician and have a simple blood glucose test done to either confirm or dismiss diabetes. Those with a family history of diabetes fall into the high-risk category and should be especially watchful.
Type 1 diabetes develops rapidly, often over a period of few weeks and the symptoms are usually obvious. Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, develops slowly and the symptoms are often less noticeable. As a matter of fact, for some people the symptoms are quite difficult to spot and diabetes is only diagnosed as a result of a routine medical check-up.
Many people even assume the symptoms to be signs of work pressure or old age. If diagnosed and treated early, the symptoms are quickly relieved in both types of diabetes. Timely treatment also cuts down the chances of developing more serious health problems.
Jon Arnold is an author and computer engineer who maintains various web sites on a variety of topics. More info on this topic can be found at his Diabetes Information web site at diabetes-datadotcom