Identifying Diabetes

As technology improves in the medical field, many illnesses can be better detected. It is hard to determine If we have a certain illness with all the commercials on radio and T.V.. When the ads play we can all relate the symptoms to ourselves. In this hub I would like help decipher what diabetes really is and it's symptoms and when to see a doctor.

In searching through many medical sites, I have come up with this description:

Diabetes is classed as a metabolic disorder. Metabolism refers to the way our bodies use digested food for energy and growth. Most of what we eat is broken down into glucose. Glucose is a form of sugar in the blood. This is the main fuel for our bodies.

When our food is digested the glucose makes its way into our bloodstream. Our cells use the glucose for energy and growth. Unfortunately, our bodies need insulin to interact with the glucose to get into our cells. 

Insulin is a hormone that is produced by the pancreas. The pancreas automatically releases an adequate amount of insulin to move the glucose present in our blood into the cells, and lowers the blood sugar level.

A person with diabetes has an elevated quantity of glucose in the blood is too elevated (hyperglycemia). This is because the body does not produce enough insulin, or produces no insulin, or has cells that do not respond properly to the insulin the pancreas produces. When any of these happens, the result is too much glucose building up in the blood. This excess blood glucose eventually passes out of the body in urine. So, even though the blood has plenty of glucose, the cells are not getting it for their essential energy and growth requirements.

• Increased urine,this can lead to dehydration. Dehydration causes increased thirst and water consumption.
• Weight loss, despite an increase in appetite.
• Fatigue, nausea, and vomiting.
• infections of the bladder, skin, and vaginal areas.
• Blurred vision.
• Extremely elevated glucose levels can lead to lethargy and coma.

People who have diabetes may have times when their blood sugar level is too low. Low blood sugar is called hypoglycemia. Signs of hypoglycemia include the following:

• Feeling very tired
• Frequent yawning
• Being unable to speak or think clearly
• Loss of muscle coordination
• Sweating
• Twitching
• Seizures
• Suddenly feeling like you’re going to pass out
• Becoming very pale
• Loss of consciousness

If you have any of the symptoms above you should see a doctor. Ask your doctor if you should get tested to diabetes.

If you answer yes to any of the statements below, you may want to seek medical attention and possibility get tested for diabetes.

• I am more than 20% over the weight.
• I have a parent, brother, or sister with diabetes.
• I am African-American, Native American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian-American, or a Pacific Islander.
• I gave birth to one or more babies who weighed more than 9 pounds. Or, I have had gestational diabetes in the past.
• I have had an impaired glucose tolerance or an impaired fasting glucose at some time in the past.
• My blood pressure is 140/90 or higher.