In diabetes, the cells of the body cannot use blood sugar, called glucose, to meet their energy needs. This is because of a lack of a sufficient amount of insulin in the bloodstream. Diabetes Type I and Diabetes Type II comprise the majority of diabetes cases.The American Diabetes Association reports that 23,600,000 Americans have diabetes and 5,700,000 of them don't know it. Understanding the symptoms of diabetes allows someone to know when to seek medical care. As with most diseases, early diagnosis and intervention in diabetes can lead to a healthier outcome. The classic symptoms of diabetes have been dubbed "the three p's."
Polyuria
Polyuria is the medical term for voiding a lot of urine. If you have untreated diabetes, you may notice that you have to void much more often than usual. You will probably also be voiding a larger total volume of urine. This may come on gradually, or it may seem to develop in a week's time. Polyuria develops because the kidneys are attempting to get rid of extra glucose in the blood. The extra glucose is in the bloodstream because it is not being used by the body, due to the lack of a sufficient quantity of insulin in the blood.
Polydipsia
Polydipsia is a medical term for excessive thirst. You may notice that you are craving water and it seems as if you cannot drink enough. You may drink more than a gallon of water each day. Some people crave other beverages, if they do not like to drink water. This excessive thirst happens because the kidneys are getting rid of water from the blood as they eliminate large quantities of urine. Your thirst mechanism is triggered in an attempt to keep enough liquid in your blood.
Polyphagia
Polyphagia is the medical term for excessive hunger. If you have undiagnosed diabetes, you may feel hungry more often than usual. This symptom may be less pronounced than the other two. The Nemours Foundation explains that polyphagia occurs because glucose is not being used for energy. This is due to the lack of insulin, the hormone required for cells to use sugar from our food. As the glucose is eliminated in urine, the body sends a message to the brain to eat more and more.
