Polydipsia and weight loss are two hallmark signs of type 1 diabetes mellitus, an endocrine disorder in which your pancreas stops producing adequate amounts of the hormone insulin. Type 1 diabetics are at increased risk of several serious diseases, but their disease can be treated reasonably well with supplemental insulin. However, for several reasons, achieving good blood glucose control in some diabetics can be difficult. If you are experiencing the symptoms of polydipsia and weight loss, you should see your doctor, as it's important to get these symptoms properly evaluated.
Identification
Polydipsia, which is the medical term for overconsumption of fluids, and weight loss, particularly if it is unintentional, are not normal; if you are experiencing both these symptoms, see your doctor. A common cause of polydipsia and weight loss is type 1 diabetes mellitus, which, according to Dr. Umesh Masharani in "Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment," is characterized by abnormally high blood sugar levels, affects approximately 1 million Americans, and is commonly diagnosed in children or young adults. This is in contrast to type 2 diabetes, which affects more than 40 million Americans and is commonly diagnosed later in life.
Other Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes
In addition to polydipsia and weight loss, the excess of glucose in the blood of type 1 diabetics causes increased water to be pulled into the urine; as a result, type 1 diabetics experience "polyuria," or excessive urination, says Dr. Masharani. Blurred vision, low blood pressure, and numbness and tingling in the extremities may also be present at the time of diagnosis.
Molecular Features of Diabetes
The concentration of glucose in your blood is primarily controlled by insulin, which lowers blood glucose, and glucagon, which raises it. Each of these hormones is made in your pancreas. In type 1 diabetics, says Alvin Powers in "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine," the pancreatic cells which produce insulin are destroyed by the body's own immune system. For this reason, type 1 diabetics are unable to regulate the amount of glucose in their blood.
Complications of Diabetes
Diabetes is a dangerous disease. According to "Harrison's," the excess glucose in the blood of a diabetic attaches itself to molecules in the circulatory system, altering the function of small, oxygen-delivering vessels. This leads to pathological changes that produce severe damage to organs such as the heart, eyes, kidneys, and nerves. When diabetes is diagnosed, it is typically treated aggressively in an attempt to prevent these outcomes from occurring.
Treatment
Because type 1 diabetes is a disease of low insulin, its treatment is simple -- administer supplemental insulin and avoid the complications of the disease. Unfortunately, it's not that simple in practice. According to Belinda Vail in "Current Diagnosis and Treatment in Family Medicine," newly-diagnosed diabetics must be educated in blood sugar monitoring, in diabetic diets, in insulin dosing for situations where their insulin needs might change, such as during extreme exercise -- exercise lowers blood glucose independent of insulin -- and must be prepared to cope with their new diagnosis. For these reason, achieving adequate blood glucose control in type 1 diabetics can occasionally be quite difficult.
References
- "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine"; Anthony S. Fauci, Eugene Braunwald, Dennis L. Kasper, Stephen L. Hauser, Dan L. Longo, J. Larry Jameson, and Joseph Loscalzo (editors); 2008
- "Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment"; Stephen J. McPhee and Maxine A. Papadakis (editors); 2009
- "Current Diagnosis & Treatment in Family Medicine"; Jeannette E. South-Paul, Samuel C. Matheny, Evelyn L. Lewis; 2008
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