What Is Diabetes?
Understanding sugar problems starts with knowing what diabetes is. Diabetes happens when your body has trouble using sugar (also called glucose). Sugar gives energy to your muscles, brain, and other body parts. When your body cannot use sugar properly, the sugar stays in your blood and causes problems.
There are different types of diabetes, but they all can lead to high blood sugar, which can be dangerous for your health.
Types of Diabetes
There are two main types of diabetes:
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Type 1 Diabetes – This type usually starts in children or teenagers, but it can happen at any age. It happens when the body stops making insulin.
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Type 2 Diabetes – This is more common and usually starts in adults over 40, but it is now seen in children too. In this type, the body doesn’t use insulin properly.
Other sugar problems include:
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Prediabetes – This is when your blood sugar is higher than normal, but not high enough to be called diabetes. Without care, it can turn into Type 2 diabetes.
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Gestational Diabetes – This type happens during pregnancy. It often goes away after the baby is born, but it still needs to be treated during pregnancy.
Signs of Sugar Problems
The signs of diabetes depend on how high your blood sugar is. Some people do not feel any symptoms, especially in prediabetes, gestational diabetes, or Type 2 diabetes. But in Type 1 diabetes, symptoms can come quickly and be more serious.
Common signs of sugar problems are:
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Feeling very thirsty.
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Needing to pee a lot.
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Losing weight without trying.
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Feeling very tired or weak.
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Mood changes or feeling upset.
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Blurry eyesight.
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Cuts or wounds that heal slowly.
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Getting infections often (like in the skin, mouth, or private parts)
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Ketones in urine (this happens when the body doesn’t have enough insulin)
Who Gets Diabetes?
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Type 1 diabetes can happen at any age but usually starts when you’re young.
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Type 2 diabetes is more likely after age 40, but it’s becoming common in younger people too.
When Should You See a Doctor?
If you think you or your child may have sugar problems, it’s important to see a doctor. Look out for the signs listed above. The earlier you find out if it’s diabetes, the faster you can get treatment.
If you already have diabetes, you should visit your doctor regularly. This helps keep your blood sugar under control and prevents problems.
