Diabetes is not unheard of. Close to 26 million Americans are afflicted by this disease, according to various sources. The best way for you to win the fight with diabetes is by being prepared and going through a few simple self-tests on a daily basis. It’s crucial that you keep track of your glucose levels because they will determine how you handle your condition as well as what sort of treatment plan works best for your needs. One way you can do this is to test your blood sugar right before every meal – the results will give you enough information on whether or not it’s safe for you to eat the meal; it could be triggering an increased risk to your health if it doesn’t agree with what’s in place of your insulin pills or other medications.
Knowing how to recognize the signs of diabetes at any several ages is important. A few symptoms that are commonly observed during diagnosis include:
Infants
Diabetes in infants is a life-changing condition and tricky to detect. Infants might suffer from low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), as well as high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). Experts warn that symptoms of both are often ignored. High blood sugar is usually associated with diabetes, though low blood sugar in babies can also have serious consequences if not treated right away. Take action if you notice any of the symptoms described below!
Babies with low blood glucose may act restless and irritable, or have lips and/or fingers that are white or blue. A baby with high blood sugar may present as being thirsty all of the time, drinking an excessive amount of water, and wetting their diapers too frequently.
Babies with diabetes will often experience sudden hunger, appear excessively drowsy and are not fond of car rides because they often get sick due to low blood sugar. Some sources also suggest that a dark red rash on your baby’s neck – which might be somewhat velvety – could be another sign of the disease.
As infants, kids with diabetes may be very thirsty and urinate frequently. They may also exhibit a ravenous hunger that suddenly disappears and some sources say that this symptom is the number one sign of diabetes in children. Other warning signs include:
- Moodiness
- Irritability
- Fatigue
- Uncharacteristic behavior (just not acting like him/herself)
- Vision problems, especially blurred vision that comes and goes
- Chronic yeast infections, especially in girls
- Tingling in hands and feet
Adults
For individuals aged between 13-30, Type I diabetes and juvenile diabetes may surface. It’s necessary to get a medical checkup if you have noticed some of the following symptoms:
- Unexplained weight loss – Adults in particular need to be cautioned about this symptom, because adults often think any weight loss is good. This is especially true if their doctor told them that being overweight put them at risk for diabetes. But if the weight loss is unexplained and is accompanied by any of the other symptoms, it might be a good idea to see your doctor.
- Thirst and urination – Like infants and children, adults with undiagnosed diabetes are often extremely thirsty. And the more you drink, the more you urinate. If it seems like you do nothing but drink and pee, and never feel satisfied as to your thirst, diabetes might be the culprit.
- Tingling in extremities – As with children, adults may experience tingling hands and feet.
If Not Diabetes – What?
There are more disorders that mimic the symptoms of diabetes than what you would probably think. These disorders include diseases of the liver, morbid obesity and the side effects caused by certain cholesterol- or blood pressure reducing drugs.
