Identifying Diabetes: A Guide for Patients

If you are worried that you may be diabetes; then you are not alone. Thousands of people world wide are diagnosed with the condition each year; for many people it does not effect there lifestyle much at all while for others it is more serious. The differentiation between how serious it is often, but not always, comes down to which type of diabetes you have. There is type 1 and type 2 diabetes, where type 1 diabetes suggests that a person is not capable of producing insulin at all, whilst a type 2 diabetes sufferer can produce insulin but in lesser amounts or they are incapable of properly absorbing it. Either way, diabetes type 1 or 2, is basically an insulin deficiency and needs to be treated. Although it does need to be treated, a type 2 diabetes sufferer can often years without being made aware however that is at the detriment of their health and well being.

The route cause of diabetes remains unknown, much to the annoyance of medical professionals and patients around the world. Despite a lack of break-through, that is not to say there is no hypothesis as to the likely cause. Because there are so many diabetes sufferers around the world, effectively profiling diabetes sufferers is something which has been tried and certain characteristics show up in some, but no all of people who have the disease. These include…

1. Obesity - Being overweight and generally having an unhealthy diet.
2. Age – As you become older you are more likely to be diagnosed with the condition.
3. Drinking Cows Milk Too Young – Those that started to drink cows milk when they should still have been drinking breast milk.
4. Food Poisoning – A large percentage of diabetes sufferers have had food poisoning at some point in their life.

Although the route causes of diabetes remain unclear, one that is clear is the symptoms that one will experience should they have diabetes. If you notice that you are suffering more than a few of these conditions then the chances of having the condition are relatively high. It is also the case that most of these conditions are serious enough to require medical attention whether or not you have Type 1 or indeed Type 2 diabetes.

1. Increases Propensity to Urinate – are you going to the toilet more often than you normally would? Especially during the night?
2. Drinking Too Much – are you drinking more than you usually would? Do you crave drinks that are non sugary and flat?
3. Constipation – constipation and stomach cramps are very common among people who go on to be diagnosed with type-2 diabetes. If you are experiencing this you should certainly consult a medical professional if it persists.
4. Fatigue – are you feeling tired and drowsy constantly? If so then this could a result of insulin deficiencies. Again, it is worthy of note that this could be equally as likely a result of something else, and still requires medical attention regardless.