| While diabetes was once recognized as an | | | | which is a term that is used to describe a |
| unfortunate disease that only affected a small | | | | situation in which blood glucose levels are |
| number of people, today statistics indicate that | | | | abnormally high, but not yet high enough to be |
| more than 18 million people in the United States | | | | diagnosed as full diabetes. When pre-diabetes is |
| alone suffer from this disease. Perhaps even | | | | allowed to continue without treatment, major |
| more startling is the fact that almost one-third of | | | | organs can be damaged over a long period of |
| those individuals may remain undiagnosed, largely | | | | time. |
| to the failure to recognize the most common | | | | One of the reasons that diabetes symptoms can |
| warning signs related to this disease. In order to | | | | be difficult to recognize is the fact that they can |
| increase the treatment of this health issue it is | | | | appear either gradually over a long period of time |
| important to understand how diabetes affects the | | | | or dramatically and suddenly. Some of the |
| body and the resulting symptoms that may | | | | symptoms that may be noticed include fatigue, |
| appear. | | | | frequent urination and excessive thirst. In some |
| Individuals with diabetes are not able to produce | | | | cases, sudden weight loss, urinary tract infections |
| or utilize insulin, which is a hormone the body | | | | and blurred vision may also be noticed. |
| requires in order to process starches and sugar | | | | Due to the fact that diabetes can lead to a |
| into energy the body needs for most life | | | | number of serious health issues such as blindness, |
| activities. There are actually four different kinds | | | | heart disease and nerve and kidney damage, it is |
| of diabetes. Juvenile diabetes, also referred to as | | | | extremely important that you be tested for |
| Type 1 diabetes is commonly first recognized in | | | | diabetes if you suffer from symptoms associated |
| young adulthood or even earlier. This type of | | | | with the disease. While these symptoms are |
| diabetes occurs as a direct result of the body | | | | commonly associated with diabetes, keep in mind |
| being unable to produce insulin. | | | | that in some cases diabetes presents absolutely |
| Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body becomes | | | | no signs or symptoms. Therefore, if you are over |
| resistant to insulin. Unlike Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 | | | | the age of 45 or fall into a high risk category, you |
| diabetes can be diagnosed at any time. Studies do | | | | should make a point to be tested for diabetes at |
| indicate; however, that some populations may be | | | | least once every couple of years. |
| more at risk for this form of diabetes than | | | | The test for diabetes is relatively simple and |
| others. The elderly appear to be highly at risk as | | | | quick; measuring the level of glucose levels in the |
| well as Latinos, African Americans, Asian | | | | blood. For an accurate measurement the test |
| Americans, Native Americans and Pacific Islanders. | | | | must be performed in the morning before food is |
| A third type of diabetes occurs during pregnancy; | | | | consumed. Pre-diabetes levels typically fall |
| usually in a situation in which the patient has no | | | | between 100 and 125 while full diabetes levels are |
| prior history of diabetes. The number of women | | | | indicated by blood glucose levels above 125. |
| who suffer from this type of diabetes is relatively | | | | While some diabetes cases may require |
| small; however it can be quite serious to both the | | | | medication in order to correct the situations, |
| mother and baby. | | | | others can be monitored with lifestyle changes, |
| The final type of diabetes is actually pre-diabetes, | | | | such as weight loss and diet changes. |