As of 2007, an estimated 18 million Americans were diagnosed with diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. Diabetes has two main types, and both types have distinct physiological effects. Type 1 diabetes is essentially characterized by the body's inability to produce insulin. Type 2 diabetes is primarily characterized by the body's inability to make use of insulin, according to the Diabetes Prevention and Control Program.
Excessive Hunger and Exhaustion
Insulin deficiency, or the body's inability to make use of insulin, results in sugar build-up in the blood. This is because cells require insulin to metabolize blood sugar, a vital fuel for cells and other body systems. Without a means of refueling, the body is soon starved of energy. This can trigger excessive hunger that often lingers even after eating, because cells are unable to process the sugar in the food, according to the Mayo Clinic. Sugar-deprivation also results in a constant feeling of exhaustion and irritability, according to the American Diabetes Association. This symptom is common to both types of diabetes.
Loss of Weight
Unusual weight loss is a physiological effect that is common in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Diabetes prevents the body from metabolizing blood sugar. As a result, fat reserves are converted into fuel. Weight loss occurs as a result of fat depletion. This symptom is common to both types of diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association.
Increased Thirstiness and Urination
Diabetes causes blood sugar levels in the body to increase. The high levels of sugar draws fluid away from body tissue. The result is persistent thirstiness that lingers even after drinking more liquid. The constant thirst triggers greater fluid intake that results in more frequent urination. This symptom is common to both types of diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association.
Impaired Vision
The higher blood sugar levels in the body due to diabetes draw fluid away from body tissue. This can also draw fluid away from the eyes, according to the Mayo Clinic. The fluid drain can result in an impaired ability to properly focus. This symptom is common to both types of diabetes, according to the Diabetes Prevention and Control Program.
Impaired Healing Response and Darkened Skin Patches
Type 2 diabetes impairs the body's ability to heal. As a result, skin abrasions and bruises take longer to heal. Infections can occur more frequently, according to the American Diabetes Association. This type of diabetes can also a condition known as acanthosis nigricans to occur. This is characterized by the appearance of darkened patches of skin in the folds of the body. Acanthosis nigricans is usually a sign of insulin resistance caused by type 2 diabetes, according to the Mayo Clinic.
