Overview
Diabetes is when your body has trouble using sugar (glucose), which is like fuel for your muscles, tissues, and brain.
Diabetes can have different causes depending on its type. However, regardless of the type, it can result in too much sugar in the blood, which can cause serious health issues.
Diabetes comes in two main types: Type 1 and Type 2. There are also two conditions that might be reversed: prediabetes and gestational diabetes.
Prediabetes occurs when your blood sugar is higher than usual, but not high enough for a diabetes diagnosis. However, if you don’t take action, it can progress to diabetes.
Gestational diabetes happens during pregnancy but often disappears after childbirth.
Signs
The signs of diabetes rely on how high your blood sugar is. Some folks, mainly those with prediabetes, gestational diabetes, or type 2 diabetes, might not feel any signs. However, in type 1 diabetes, symptoms usually appear fast and can be more serious.
Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can cause similar symptoms, such as
- Feeling extra thirsty.
- Going to the bathroom a lot.
- Losing weight unintentionally.
- Ketones in urine (related to low insulin).
- Feeling tired or weak.
- Mood swings or irritability.
- Blurry vision.
- Slow-healing wounds.
- Frequent infections like gums, skin, or vaginal infections.
Type 1 diabetes can begin at any age, but it usually starts when you’re a kid or a teenager. On the other hand, Type 2 diabetes, which is more common, can show up at any age, but it’s more likely to affect people over 40. However, we’re seeing more cases of Type 2 diabetes in kids now.
When should you visit a doctor
If you suspect that you or your child might have diabetes, get in touch with your doctor or healthcare provider if you see any signs of diabetes. The sooner they can figure out if it’s diabetes, the quicker they can start treating it.
If you’ve been told you have diabetes, you’ll have to keep going to the doctor regularly to make sure your sugar levels stay normal.
