10 Signs of Diabetes ...

Excessive urination is caused by a large quantity of glucose in the blood stream. When there isn't enough insulin available or if the insulin is ineffective, the kidneys aren't able to filter the glucose back in the blood. Instead, the kidneys freak out and suck water from the body to try and dilute the excess glucose. This gathering of water then fills the bladder to the point that most of the day is spent in the bathroom.

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Another of the signs of diabetes is the constant thirst that happens. It is also linked to the excess glucose and water drawing system going on in the kidneys. As water is drawn from the body, it needs to be replaced somehow. The body is continually asking for more water since it is busy sucking it all out and excreting it.

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Weight loss tends to happen quickly with Type 1 diabetes and gradually with Type 2 diabetes. It is quicker in Type 1 because the pancreas doesn't make insulin. Since cells aren't getting the glucose they need, the body searches for an alternate energy source. The only thing left for the body to take energy from is the muscles and fat in the body, causing rapid weight loss.

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When the glucose in the body is drawn from the food we eat, it is then supposed to be helped into the cells by insulin. If the insulin isn't working properly, then the cells get starved of their glucose. Starving cells equal a rundown and tired body.

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These signs of diabetes often affect feet, hands, or legs. This happens because of nerve damage. The high glucose levels damage the nervous system, especially in the body's extremities. Nerve damage can often gradually appear, since people with Type 2 diabetes don't usually know they have it.

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High blood sugar levels cause the retina's blood vessels to be damaged. When these vessels are weakened, fluid leaks and the eye swells causing vision to blur. If this begins to happen and it isn't caught by a doctor, it can easily lead to blindness.

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Dry skin occurs because of the whole water issue that occurs within the body when diabetes is present. When the kidneys are busy pulling water from the body, the rest of the cells suffer. Water is being sucked from all cells and then quickly excreted, keeping even the skin from being able to retain any moisture.

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High blood sugar causes wounds and bruises to heal much slower, since blood flow is slower from clogged arteries. These wounds can also have a delayed healing because of the nerve damage caused by the diabetes. When there is nerve damage in feet, the sensitivity is a lot less than usual. It is hard to notice that there is something poking you in the foot when you can't feel it. These can be one of the most obvious physical signs of diabetes.

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Excessive sugar in the system can cause yeast to run rampant in the gastrointestinal tract. This build up of yeast can cause not only vaginal yeast infections, but also infections of the gums, skin, or bladder. Eating foods that have natural sugars, such as those found in fruits, will lower the yeast that accumulates in the body.

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An increase in hunger is triggered by the lack of insulin, which causes the body to be low on energy. Whenever the body is lacking energy, it sends signals out requesting food. This is why many diabetics feel the need to eat, even after they have just finished a meal.

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Knowing these ten signs of diabetes can help to save your or someone else's life. Diabetes needs to be caught in its earliest stages, in order to keep complications from happening. Be sure to check on your blood sugar levels if you are showing any combination of the above signs. Have you been diagnosed with diabetes? What were your early symptoms?

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