Diabetes is a serious condition affecting nearly 26 million people in the United States. The disease is a result of overproduction or underproduction of the hormone insulin. As a result of the body’s ability to produce an adequate insulin level, glucose levels are affected in people who have Diabetes.
Many contributing factors determine whether someone develops diabetes, including genetics and lifestyle choices. Diabetes affects women, men and children alike. This article will help individuals who think they have the disease determine the signs and symptoms of Diabetes. With no cure for the disease, they must recognize whether it afflicts them to manage their health.
Signs of Diabetes in Children
Type I Diabetes is associated with children and young adults. With this type of Diabetes, the body does not produce insulin; therefore, these individuals cannot convert sugar to energy.
Children with the disease are generally predisposed to the condition, but it can be managed by watching blood glucose and insulin levels, exercise and diet. The following are a few signs and symptoms of Type I Diabetes in children.
Signs of Type 1 Diabetes in Children
Thirst —is a sign of Diabetes that affects all types of diabetics. High sugar levels cause the body to take water from other areas, including their muscles, which increases children’s thirst. They will also need to use the bathroom frequently as a result of this condition.
Weight loss —shrinking muscles is a noticeable sign that your child may have Type I Diabetes. Their muscles shrink because they cannot get all the nutrients necessary to sustain their growing bodies. As a result, pre-diabetic individuals can lose weight and significantly reduce their chances of developing the disease.
Lack of energy —since they are not getting the nutrients needed to fuel their daily activities through food, they will not have a lot of energy. Since Diabetes have a lack of energy, they can quickly become stressed and frustrated during situations that may seem uneventful to others.
Vision problems —pressure from fluid buildup in their eyes will impact their ability to see. Individuals with Diabetes can develop glaucoma and blindness as a result of extra fluid in their eyes.
Yeast infections —from babies to young girls, Type I Diabetes increases their chances of having yeast infections. Boys can also have yeast infections. However, it is more prevalent in girls.
Children may not have all of these symptoms, but the presence of multiple symptoms signals that parents should take their child to see a medical professional.
General Signs of Type 2 Diabetes in Women and Men
Women and men who have Type II Diabetes and do not know it has various diabetes signs. Some people may not have all the diabetes symptoms, so not displaying them does not mean that they do not have the disease. In addition to the symptoms highlighted above, women and men have the following symptoms:
Acanthosis nigricans is a skin condition that results in dark, thick patches of skin in some regions of the body. These patches are a result of poor circulation. Acanthosis nigricans can appear on the neck, thighs and armpits of individuals affected by Type I Diabetes. Some people mistake this condition as poor hygiene, but it is a sign of having Diabetes.
Granuloma annular —is a skin condition in which Diabetes develop raised rings on their skin. The rings can be located anywhere on the body but are most often found on the hands and feet. These sores do not hurt or itch, but they generally take a long time to go away.
Sores that take a long time to heal result from damaged nerves from glucose in the bloodstream. People with diabetes must dress their sores well to prevent them from getting infected, complicate their management of the condition.
Increased appetite —dips in blood sugar levels result in the brain thinking hungry, even if the individual has recently eaten. Both thirst and increased appetites are early signs of Diabetes, yet having an increased appetite doesn’t always mean that a person has Diabetes.
Tingles and numbness —individuals may feel tingling, such as needle pricks and numbness in their feet because the disease affects their nerves.
Problems during intercourse —signs of Diabetes in women include reduced vaginal lubrication and increased sensitivity due to developing the disease. Signs of Diabetes in men include erectile dysfunction due to damaged nerves.
Itchy skin —damaged nerve endings increase sensitivity, so individuals affected by the disease may often find their skin itches. In addition, poor circulation and dry skin typically cause diabetic individuals to itch in their lower legs and toes.
Dry mouth —due to being thirsty, people with diabetes may find that they consistently have a dryer mouth than usual. For many people with the condition, this can impact the way their breath smells.
Complications Associated With Diabetes
Millions of Americans live with Diabetes. They can do this by effectively monitoring their insulin and blood sugar levels. For individuals with Diabetes who fail to monitor their health are at risk of developing other medical complications, including:
- Cataracts
- Glaucoma
- Kidney damage
- High blood pressure
- Nerve damage
- Amputation
Many of these complications happen after someone has willfully ignored the necessary actions they should take to manage their Diabetes; however, individuals with severe disease cases may be confronted with any of the complications above.
Gestational Diabetes in Women
Developing Diabetes as a woman is more severe than for their male counterparts. For women, developing Diabetes increases their chances of having a heart attack, which very few survive. Women diagnosed as a child with Type I Diabetes have the same symptoms outlined above for Type I.
Gestational Diabetes is a particular case of Diabetes that only affects some women during pregnancy. Although there are no signs of Gestational Diabetes, women who suspect that they may have an increased chance of developing the condition or who think they have it should consult with a medical professional.
Since there are no symptoms of Gestational Diabetes, women who have a family history of Gestational Diabetes should talk to a medical professional before trying to have a baby.
During pregnancy, a woman’s placenta creates many hormones to help sustain the baby. Unfortunately, these hormones tend to block the production of insulin, which leads to women developing Gestational Diabetes.
Most women develop this disease later in their pregnancy, and it generally goes away after the baby is born and hormone levels return to normal.
Complications Associated with Gestational Diabetes
Much like other forms of Diabetes, Who can manage Gestational Diabetes by watching insulin levels, food intake and exercise. Of course, women should not do any robust or extreme exercises to protect their children during pregnancy. By working with a licensed medical professional, women can reduce the risk of the following complications.
Developing Type II Diabetes —some women continue to have the disease after giving birth. Heredity and food intake are risk factors that impact whether women will continue to have the disease after the birth of their child.
Hypoglycemia —high insulin levels within the baby’s system can cause them to have low blood sugar. This condition can result in seizures, which threaten the child’s life.
Large babies —excessive amounts of insulin can cause women to have a baby that weighs over nine pounds. Unfortunately, large babies tend to get stuck in the birth canal, which can lead to many complications during birth, even risking the life of the mother and child.
Respiratory distress for the baby —high levels of insulin increase the chances of children being born before their lungs are allowed to develop fully. When this happens, the baby may need assistance breathing until their lungs are fully developed.
Diabetes is a serious condition that plagues millions of people. The best way to reduce complications that could impact a person’s quality of life is through education and discipline.
Who must inform people with Diabetes on what foods they should avoid and how the disease affects various areas of their daily life. By knowing this information, they place less strain on their bodies, and they can increase their chances of living a life that isn’t centred on the fact that they have Diabetes.
