Impaired glucose intolerance is the beginning state of diabetes. Diabetes is a condition where your body cannot absorb glucose into the organs and tissues. Sugar is broken down in your digestive tract into its simplest form, glucose. Glucose is then distributed throughout the body through blood vessels. Insulin is then released from the pancreas, and is responsible for "pushing" glucose into organs and tissues for use as fuel. There are two types of deficiencies in this pathway that cause diabetes. In Type I diabetes, there is a severe deficiency of insulin production by the pancreas. In Type II, there is an insulin reduction and a decreased sensitivity to insulin's effects at the organs and tissues. Diabetes is a serious condition that can start with symptoms of glucose intolerance.
Increased Thirst
According to the Mayo Clinic, increased thirst is one of the first symptoms of diabetes. High glucose levels cause fluid from tissues and organs to collect into the bloodstream. These tissues are then deprived of water and will cause you to feel thirsty. In medical jargon, this symptom is called polydipsia. If you are experiencing an increase in thirst without an increase in physical activity, alert your doctor.
Increased Urination
The Mayo Clinic states that frequent urination is a common symptom of diabetes. Because high blood glucose levels cause more fluid to be collected into the blood, more fluid volume is filtered by the kidneys. Your kidneys will then filter out this excess fluid to make urine, resulting in more frequent urination without an increase in water intake. This is termed polyuria.
Fatigue
The American Diabetes Association reports that extreme fatigue and irritability are common symptoms of diabetes. Glucose is a very important source of energy for your body's organs, including your brain. According to a 2009 article in "Live Science," your brain uses 20 percent of your body's calories. With glucose intolerance, your brain cannot use glucose like it needs to, making you tired and irritable. Although fatigue is a common symptom in glucose intolerance, there can be many other possible causes as well, so alert your doctor if you are experiencing excess fatigue.
