Diabetes is a chronic medical condition in which the body is unable to make or effectively utilize insulin to control the level of sugar in the blood. The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that approximately 220 million people deal with this medical condition on a daily basis worldwide. If you think you or a loved one may have this condition, be on the lookout for symptoms associated with diabetes.
Frequent Urination
You may notice that the number of times you urinate throughout the day has significantly increased. This occurs because your body is attempting to flush the excess levels of sugar from the blood. If you find that you regularly urinate more than eight times a day, speak with your doctor for further medical evaluation.
Extreme Hunger or Thirst
People with diabetes frequently experience extreme hunger or thirst because the body does not know how to manage the sugar intake from the diet. Thus, your body thinks that it is starving, regardless of how much food you have eaten.
Unexplained Weight Loss
You may experience extreme and seemingly unexplained weight loss. In people with diabetes, the body is unable to effectively utilize the energy sources present within digested food. To provide energy for you to complete your normal daily activities, the body uses alternative sources of energy, such as fat, to fuel your body. This can lead to significant weight loss over a short period of time, regardless of how much food you are eating on a daily basis.
Fatigue
You may experience extreme fatigue on a daily basis. In people with diabetes, the sources of energy provided through dietary intake are not able to be used efficiently. This causes the body to be tired or lethargic because it does not have the necessary energy to support the requirements of the body.
Recurrent Infections
If you have diabetes---especially Type 2 diabetes---you may experience frequent or recurrent infections, according to the American Diabetes Association. These infections may occur within the skin, gums or bladder, and may lead to additional medical problems such as nerve damage (diabetic neuropathy). Such conditions may also cause sensations of tingling or numbness, and occur in the hands or feet. Infections of the skin may be slow to heal, and may be severe.
Vision Problems
People with Type 2 diabetes may experience blurred or double vision. In severe cases, permanent vision damage, including blindness, may occur in certain people.
